pregnant

adjective

preg·​nant ˈpreg-nənt 

1

: containing a developing embryo, fetus, or unborn offspring within the body : gravid

2

: full, teeming

3

: rich in significance or implication

the pregnant phrases of the Bible

—Edmund Wilson

a pregnant pause

4

: having possibilities of development or consequence : involving important issues : momentous

draw inspiration from the heroic achievements of that pregnant age

—Kemp Malone

5

: abounding in fancy, wit, or resourcefulness : inventive

all this has been said … by great and pregnant artists

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

6

archaic : cogent

7

obsolete : inclined, disposed

your own most pregnant and vouchsafed ear

—William Shakespeare

pregnantly adverb

Synonyms

• big
• caught
• enceinte
• expectant
• expecting
• gone
• gravid
• heavy
• quick [archaic]

Examples of pregnant in a Sentence

She got pregnant soon after her marriage.

There was a pregnant pause before the winner was announced.

Recent Examples on the Web

The audience watches a pregnant Elena, dressed in widow’s black, chopping onions, in the kitchen at Las Palomas Ranch. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Nov. 2024

Candace Fails screamed for someone in the Texas hospital to help her pregnant daughter. —Lizzie Presser and Kavitha Surana, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024

Menstrual cups typically come in two sizes: a smaller cup for people under 30 who haven't previously been pregnant or given birth and a larger cup for people over 30 or who have been pregnant or given birth. —Wendy Wisner, Health, 1 Nov. 2024

For example, pregnant women often need iron supplements and folic acid (a B vitamin). —Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin praegnant-, praegnans carrying a fetus, alteration of praegnas, from prae- pre- + -gnas (akin to gignere to give birth to) — more at kin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6

Kids Definition

pregnant

adjective

preg·​nant ˈpreg-nənt 

1

: containing a developing embryo, fetus, or unborn offspring within the body

2

: full of meaning

a pregnant pause

pregnantly adverb

Medical Definition

pregnant

adjective

preg·​nant ˈpreg-nənt 

: containing a developing embryo, fetus, or unborn offspring within the body : gestating, gravid