as in pregnancy
the state of containing unborn young within the body
noticing the telltale bump, we guessed that she was in the family way again
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Recent Examples of family way
That was the family way, as Schadt’s great-grandfather, Jacob Heitzman, started the place in 1891.
—
Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Jan. 2026
The devastation of the accident affected my family way beyond 1979.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2022
One thing that the proud mom believes helped propel her son to success was the Cochran family way, coined by her father in a book.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE.com, 9 Feb. 2022
The devastation of the accident affected my family way beyond 1979.
—Jonathon Berlin, sun-sentinel.com, 21 May 2021
Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Jan. 2026
The devastation of the accident affected my family way beyond 1979.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2022
One thing that the proud mom believes helped propel her son to success was the Cochran family way, coined by her father in a book.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE.com, 9 Feb. 2022
The devastation of the accident affected my family way beyond 1979.
—Jonathon Berlin, sun-sentinel.com, 21 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for family way
Noun
-
The photos were never published in the UK and was immediately overshadowed by the news of Kate Middleton’s pregnancy.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
7 Mar. 2026
-
That’s an entire pregnancy’s worth of time spent trying to figure out what to call her baby boy.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the sixth week of gestation, human embryos possess a tail with multiple vertebrae.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The long gestation proved to be a gift.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Family way.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/family%20way. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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