pregnant

adjective

preg·​nant ˈpreg-nənt 

1

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

2

: full, teeming

The moment was pregnant with excitement.

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 of pregnant

• expecting
• expectant
• with young
• with child
• caught

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

Lee Gilley, 39, has been charged with capital murder in the October 2024 death of his wife, Christa, who was nine weeks pregnant at the time of her death. — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026

At least 11 people, including a pregnant woman, were killed and three others were wounded in a mass shooting at a house party in South Africa on Tuesday night, police said. — Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Three gunmen opened fire at a house party in KwaMakhutha township near Durban, killing 11 people, including a pregnant woman, and wounding three others. — Gerald Imray, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

Eleven people, including a woman believed to be pregnant, were killed when gunmen opened fire at a house south of the South African city of Durban, police said Wednesday. — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for pregnant

• regnant
• nonpregnant

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