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
My two daughters left home at 16 and 13 to live with their fathers. Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026 His father, Rick, an NBA journeyman, used to school his son in the rigors of hoops. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
Verb
McLaren The team fathered by 1960s Formula 1 and Can-Am driver and designer Bruce McLaren celebrates its 1,000th Grand Prix this week by taking over part of Coconut Grove. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026 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 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
  • The wine list is impressive, which is no surprise considering one of the resort’s former sommeliers was Joseph Carr, founder of Josh Cellars.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
  • Curry is the founder and CEO of Thirty Ink, that includes businesses such as Unanimous Media, bourbon brand Gentleman’s Cut and 7k marketing consultancy.
    Justina Lee, CNBC, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • The young Khomeini, who doesn’t hold a government position, spoke at the main ceremony commemorating his great grandfather’s death 37 years ago.
    Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 5 June 2026
  • Owner Ray Biggerstaff announced his retirement, signaling the end of an era for the company founded in 1948 by his grandfather, Raymond Biggerstaff.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 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
  • Our ancestors—the hard-working, long-suffering peasant women who told these stories to each other and passed them down the generations through the oral tradition—knew everything there was to know about adversity.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
  • The contest also encouraged students to think of ways to prevent water pollution, and how our ancestors may have loved to save water.
    Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • That spawned a whole new segment in tourism, one that has since been replicated by other luxury hotel groups and this new adults-only resort.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
  • Before tacos spawned $17 brunchtime objets d’art and before Orange County’s dining scene started receiving some of the breathless national attention usually reserved for Los Angeles and San Francisco, Rafael De Anda was making and selling tacos from a truck in Santa Ana.
    Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 3 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Father.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/father. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

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