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
Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 22 May 2025
What does this research mean for parents and their babies?
—Kris Ann Valdez, Parents, 21 May 2025
Emily St. Martin, Oc Register, 9 May 2025
But Vance thinks the real problem is that people just aren’t babying hard enough.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for baby
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Family welcomes arrival of new baby Evie 'The Bear' Season 4 cast
Jeremy Allen White returns as head chef Carmy, a role that has won him two consecutive Emmys for.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 22 May 2025
What does this research mean for parents and their babies?
—Kris Ann Valdez, Parents, 21 May 2025
Verb
Be babied by him with back rubs, head scratches and order fast food for dinner.
—Emily St. Martin, Oc Register, 9 May 2025
But Vance thinks the real problem is that people just aren’t babying hard enough.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 8 May 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 29 May. 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
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