adjective
pregnant
PREHG-nuhnt
adjective
1
Carrying a developing baby inside the body; expecting a child.
"She is seven months pregnant."
"They found out they were pregnant just before Christmas."
2
Full of meaning, possibility, or implication.
"There was a pregnant pause before he answered."
"Her silence felt pregnant with unspoken accusation."
How to Use Pregnant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually means expecting a baby, but can also describe a moment or silence that's loaded with meaning.
Common pairings
pregnant woman
pregnant pause
get pregnant
heavily pregnant
Word Forms
more pregnant comparative, more pregnant comparative, pregnants plural, most pregnant superlative, most pregnant superlative
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Etymology
From Old French preignant/pregnant, from Latin praegnans, built from prae- ("before") plus an old root meaning "to be born." It replaced the native Old English word bearneacen, literally "child-enlarged."