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

• 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

Also back on Bravo, years after getting fired from Vanderpump for racist mischief, was perennial pot-stirrer Kristen Doute, now trying to get pregnant with her boyfriend, soft-spoken L.A. outsider Luke Broderick. —Judy Berman, Time, 13 Aug. 2025

Other updates include a pregnancy-aware Oura advisor, cycle insights and biometrics from resting heart rate to heart rate variability which are used to provide insights for pregnant women. —David Phelan, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Seal and Klum first met when the model was two weeks pregnant with Leni. —Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2025

Side view pregnant woman with advanced pregnant belly belly in hands. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025

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