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
-
Their youngest daughter’s role on the ABC police procedural goes back to before she was born, with her pregnancy — and experience having a home birth — being written into her storyline in season 5.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
-
And as the camera quickly revealed her pregnancy, a legend was complete.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The pills are prescribed early in pregnancy, and are considered safe up to 10 weeks’ gestation.—
Emily Brindley,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Females normally birth two to four litters a year—their gestation period is only 15 to 22 days—and litter sizes can range from one to 13 young, though the average is around five to seven.—
Noel Kirkpatrick,
Treehugger,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Family way.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/family%20way. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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