Definition of gestationnext
as in pregnancy
the state of containing unborn young within the body the length of gestation for the gray wolf is about 63 days

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 gestation According to the medical center, Cryptic pregnancies are rare, with studies suggesting about 1 in 475 pregnancies go unnoticed until about 20 weeks gestation, while about 1 in 2,500 pregnancies go unnoticed until delivery. Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026 When commenced before 10 weeks’ gestation, the two-drug method is effective about 98% of the time. Rachel Rebouché, The Conversation, 10 Dec. 2025 Because pandas' gestation periods are short, babies are born small, weighing just a few ounces. CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025 In the study, which was funded by BrightHeart, researchers examined a set of 200 fetal ultrasound examinations between 18 and 24 weeks of gestation from 11 medical centers across two countries. Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gestation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gestation
pregnancy
Noun
  • Under Republican leadership, women who have pregnancy complications are dying.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Hendricks had developed preeclampsia, a potentially fatal complication of pregnancy involving damage to the blood vessels and high amounts of fluid loss.
    Ari Daniel, NPR, 14 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gestation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gestation. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on gestation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!