birth
16 synonyms and 1 antonyms for birth, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The event of being born; the moment a baby or animal comes into the world.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use birth
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Middle English birthe, borrowed from Old Norse burðr, ultimately from the same ancient root as the verb "to bear" — so birth literally means "the act of bearing (a child)".
Full origin of birth →Frequently asked questions
What does “birth” mean?
The word “birth” means the event of being born; the moment a baby or animal comes into the world. In plain terms, being born, or the start of something new.
How do you pronounce “birth”?
“Birth” is pronounced burth (/bɜɹθ/ in IPA).
How do you use “birth” in a sentence?
Here is “birth” used in a sentence: “She was exhausted but overjoyed after the birth of her son.”
What is the opposite of “birth”?
The opposite of “birth” — its antonyms — is death.
What part of speech is “birth”?
Depending on how it is used, “birth” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “birth” come from?
The word “birth” comes from Middle English. From Middle English birthe, borrowed from Old Norse burðr, ultimately from the same ancient root as the verb "to bear" — so birth literally means "the act of bearing (a child)".
Is “birth” a common word?
“Birth” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “birth” have?
“Birth” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the event of being born; the moment a baby or animal comes into the world.
What is the difference between "birth" and "berth"?
They sound alike but are unrelated. "Birth" is the moment of being born, the arrival of a baby or animal into the world. "Berth" is a sleeping bunk on a ship or train, or a space where a ship docks. The phrase "give a wide berth" also means to keep well clear of something.
What is the opposite of birth?
The natural opposite is death: one marks the beginning of life and the other its end, and the pair is often spoken of together. In a narrower sense, "birth" can be contrasted with "conception," which comes months earlier, but in everyday language death is the true opposite.