adj
Very common
born
bawn
Born (adj) means having a particular quality from birth; natural or innate. Example: “He is a born storyteller and can hold any room's attention.”
adj
1
Having a particular quality from birth; natural or innate.
"He is a born storyteller and can hold any room's attention."
"She's a born leader — people just follow her instructions."
"He was born with a talent for music."
"I ought really to have called him my sergeant. He's a born sergeant. That's as much as to say he's a born scoundrel."
— Storm Jameson, Then we shall hear singing: a fantasy in C major (1942)
"In the United States, information describing the operation of nuclear weapons is born secret."
How to use born
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes a quality someone has had since birth, or literally the fact of being brought into the world.
Common mistake
Use "born" for birth ("I was born in 1990") but "borne" for the past participle of "carry" or "endure" ("she has borne the pain well").
Easily confused with
Common pairings
born and raised
a born leader
born free
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like born.
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
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He is a _____ storyteller and can hold any room's attention.
Etymology
From Old English "boren," the past participle of "beran" ("to bear, carry"), the same root as the verb "bear."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for born
See all rhymes for born →Frequently asked questions
What does “born” mean?
The word “born” means having a particular quality from birth; natural or innate. In plain terms, describes a quality someone has had since birth, or literally the fact of being brought into the world.
How do you pronounce “born”?
“Born” is pronounced bawn (/boɹn/ in IPA).
How do you use “born” in a sentence?
Here is “born” used in a sentence: “She's a born leader — people just follow her instructions.”
What part of speech is “born”?
“Born” is an adjective.
Where does the word “born” come from?
The word “born” comes from Old English. From Old English "boren," the past participle of "beran" ("to bear, carry"), the same root as the verb "bear.".
Is “born” a common word?
“Born” is a very common word in modern English.
What is the difference between born and borne?
Both come from the verb bear, but they split by meaning. Born relates to birth: 'she was born in June,' or 'a born athlete.' Borne is used for every other sense of bear, meaning carried or endured: 'he has borne great hardship,' or 'a disease borne by insects.' If birth is not involved, use borne.
What is an example of born used as an adjective?
In the phrase 'a born leader,' born means the person has leadership in their nature from the start, not something they had to learn. Similar examples include a born storyteller or a born athlete. The word marks a talent or quality that seems natural and innate rather than acquired.
What does it mean to be a born something?
To be a born something, such as a born teacher or a born performer, is to have a natural gift for it that appears to come effortlessly, as if present from birth. It suggests the ability is instinctive rather than trained, a part of who the person fundamentally is.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include born:
