birth
burth
Birth (noun) means the event of being born; the moment a baby or animal comes into the world. Example: “The farmer stayed up all night waiting for the birth of the foal.”
noun
1
The event of being born; the moment a baby or animal comes into the world.
"The farmer stayed up all night waiting for the birth of the foal."
"She was exhausted but overjoyed after the birth of her son."
"The zoo announced the birth of two rare tiger cubs."
2
The start or origin of something.
"Historians often describe that invention as the birth of modern communication."
"The festival was the birth of a tradition that still continues in our village."
"The meeting marked the birth of a new political movement."
verb
1
To give birth to, or to bring something into existence.
"The old mare birthed a healthy foal in the early hours."
"Years of late-night arguments eventually birthed the idea for their little company."
"The lab birthed a whole new field of research."
How to use birth
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing born, or the start of something new.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "berth" (a bed on a ship/train, or a parking spot for a vessel) — they sound identical but are unrelated in modern use.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
give birth
at birth
birth of a nation
date of birth
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like birth.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- births
- Third person singular
- births
- Past tense
- birthed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The farmer stayed up all night waiting for the _____ of the foal.
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)".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for birth
See all rhymes for 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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include birth:
