sire

1 of 2

noun

ˈsī(-ə)r 

1

a

: father

b

archaic : male ancestor : forefather

c

: author, originator

2

a

archaic : a man of rank or authority

especially : lord

—used formerly as a form of address and as a title

b

obsolete : an elderly man : senior

3

: the male parent of an animal and especially of a domestic animal

sire

2 of 2

verb

sired; siring

transitive verb

1

: beget

—used especially of male domestic animals

2

: to bring into being : originate

Synonyms

Noun

• dad
• father
• daddy

Verb

• beget
• father
• spawn
• produce
• reproduce

Examples of sire in a Sentence

Noun

his sire had been a renowned Wall Street lawyer

the revered sire of the impressionist movement in art

Verb

The horse sired several champion racers.

the champion racehorse went on to sire a long line of winners

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In wings and beak and crest, Formed like his sire, as in the feet before; But like the mare, his dam, in all the rest. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 11 June 2025

Many more of these moments would have rounded out Pagnol as a worthy sire beyond his literary laurels. —Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 20 May 2025

Verb

More than 13 years after co-creating Chicago Fire and thus helping sire the popular #OneChicago Universe, Derek Haas was looking to break free of the broadcast procedural formula, with Prime Video‘s Countdown. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 20 June 2025

In summary, King Henry VIII, desperate to sire a son, sought to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and marry Anne Boleyn. —Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, lord, feudal superior, from Vulgar Latin *seior, alteration of Latin senior older — more at senior

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sire

• acquire
• attire
• bonfire
• campfire
• ceasefire
• conspire
• desire
• enquire
• entire
• greenbrier
• gunfire
• homebuyer

Kids Definition

sire

1 of 2 noun

ˈsī(ə)r 

1

: father entry 1 sense 1a

2

archaic : a male ancestor : forefather

3

: the male parent of an animal and especially of a domestic animal

sire

2 of 2 verb

sired; siring

: beget sense 1

—used especially of domestic animals

Medical Definition

sire

1 of 2 noun

ˈsī(ə)r 

: the male parent of an animal and especially of a domestic animal

sire

2 of 2 transitive verb

sired; siring

: to procreate as the male parent of