father 1 of 2

Definition of fathernext
1
as in dad
a male human parent the special relationship that exists between fathers and sons

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4
as in Lord
capitalized the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe let us ask humbly for the blessings of our Father in heaven

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father

2 of 2

verb

as in to sire
to become the father of Paul Revere somehow found room in his small house for the large family he had fathered

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of father
Noun
Howard Storm’s son, Anthony Storm, told The Hollywood Reporter that his father died on Tuesday of natural causes at his home in Beverly Hills. Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 One day, Bellingham finally asked about it, and his father told him to watch YouTube highlights. Tim Rohan, NBC news, 27 May 2026
Verb
The ship’s log was kept by a young officer named Nathaniel Hathorne—who would later father that other, more famous Nathaniel Hawthorne (the author added the w). Michele Metychall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026 The youngest is a baby and is my first grandchild fathered by my son. Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for father
Recent Examples of Synonyms for father
Noun
  • Andrew was only 4 days old when his dad hit his second home run of the 2004 NLCS.
    Jose de Jesus Ortiz, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
  • Clough, who lives in Encinitas with his wife, Veronika, and their two rescue cats, also has two adult children and started Plastic Beach in 2019, after earlier careers as a police officer in Hong Kong, an EMT and paramedic in London, and a stay-at-home dad.
    Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • At first, the three founders—art critic Marsha Miro, dealer Susanne Feld Hilberry, and photographer Julia Reyes Taubman—envisioned creating an institution that would operate as an extension of the Detroit Institute of Arts that focused on alternative exhibition programming.
    Brianna J. Heath, ARTnews.com, 26 May 2026
  • For Regen, founder of Regen Projects, Opie’s ability to move across subjects has long defined her practice.
    Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
Noun
  • Gilbert Bernal, a grandfather, was identified as the first victim.
    Adam England, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
  • Treat Them as Buffalo is, in part, my attempt to respect the lives and decisions of my great-grandmother, Sara Desjarlais, and my grandfather, John Palmer.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • There are several Nick Cannons — the TV host, the actor, the occasional hip-hop artist, the penitent, and, perhaps the most famous Cannon, the fertile father of 12 who sired five children in 2022 alone.
    Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2026
  • Bowie sired a calf there in June 2025, making Fort Worth Zoo’s oldest elephant Rasha a great-grandmother and the matriarch of four generations.
    Harriet Ramos May 7, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
Noun
  • Even after Mando saves him from the arena, Rotta's daddy issues constitute his entire personality.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 May 2026
  • In Cannes, France Heidi Klum brings her son Henry and husband Tom Kaulitz to the amfAR Gala as Gordon Ramsay has a daddy-daughter date night with his girls in London.
    People Staff, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
Noun
  • Incorporated into the city in 1860, this former hamlet was the haunt of Molière and the literati, and later a hotbed of Art Nouveau residences by architect Hector Guimard (the creator of Paris’s iconic Métro entrances).
    Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
  • The story takes place in Iran, where both Nayeri and Bell lived as children, and the creators’ affection for the setting shines through in their work.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • Honey hunting became a popular pastime, as colonists tracked down wild colonies to harvest wax and honey like their ancestors back in Europe.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
  • Our ancestors had to cooperate to achieve big goals, like killing an animal for food.
    Inga Bielińska, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • Like Heated Rivalry before it, Off Campus became an instant sensation, spawning a passionate fanbase that’s ready to see how the rest of Kennedy’s books might be adapted in future seasons.
    Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 28 May 2026
  • The beloved Filipino alt-rock band spawned a comic-book series that was featured at San Diego Comic-Con in 2024.
    Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Father.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/father. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.

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