plural babies
1
a(1)
: an extremely young child
especially
: infant
She just had a baby.
I hear the baby crying.
—sometimes used of an adult daughter or son to express parental nostalgia or affection Our baby has gone off to college.
You'll always be my baby.
(2)
: an extremely young animal
b
: the youngest of a group
He is the baby of the family.
2
a
: one that is like a baby (as in behavior)
When it comes to getting shots, I'm a real baby.
b
: something that is one's special responsibility, achievement, or interest
The project was his baby.
3
1
: of, relating to, or being an extremely young child
a baby bonnet
2
: much smaller than the usual
baby carrots
a baby grand piano
Take baby steps.
babied; babying
1
: to tend to indulge with often excessive or inappropriate care and solicitude
babying their only child
2
: to use or treat with care
babying a sore knee
Examples of baby in a Sentence
Noun
I hear the baby crying.
The baby is just learning to crawl.
a bird and its babies
My sister is the baby of the family.
“Only 32? Oh, you're just a baby!”
When it comes to getting shots, I'm a real baby.
Don't be such a baby—you'll get your turn.
Nothing's gone right since my baby went away.
Verb
That boy will never learn to stand up for himself if you don't stop babying him.
He was babying his injured foot.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jillian Frankel, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Now a mommy influencer on Instagram, Abby and her husband call upon Noah to oversee a baby naming ceremony, which a vengeful Joanne also attends.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Kate Siber, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025
Outside the woods the whole world babied her.
—Hazlitt, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baby
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
After arriving at the residential property, a woman, who was not publicly identified, rushed toward him while carrying the limp baby in her arms.
—Jillian Frankel, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Now a mommy influencer on Instagram, Abby and her husband call upon Noah to oversee a baby naming ceremony, which a vengeful Joanne also attends.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
Hummers are the smallest and lightest of birds, some weighing no more than a coin, some babies the size of a bean.
—Kate Siber, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025
Outside the woods the whole world babied her.
—Hazlitt, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baby
Cite this Entry
“Baby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baby. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
baby
2 of 3 adjective1
: being or relating to a baby
a baby deer
my baby sister
baby clothes
2
: much smaller than usual
a baby grand piano
baby carrots
baby
3 of 3 verb
babied; babying
1
: to use or treat as a baby : pet
2
: to operate or treat with care
babied the car
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share