pregnant
gb/pɹˈɛɡnənt/ us/pɹˈɛɡnənt/
A2
English
~ 3700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
state
1
Having a baby developing inside
When a woman or female animal has a baby growing inside her body.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is pregnant
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'pregnant' with 'expecting' without realizing 'expecting' is less formal and often softer in tone.
Synonyms
expecting (Informal and gentle term for being pregnant.)
|
with child (Somewhat old-fashioned phrase for being pregnant.)
Antonyms
nonpregnant (Medical term meaning not pregnant.)
Collocations
heavily pregnant
|become pregnant
|get pregnant
|three months pregnant
|pregnant woman
Themes
health
|family
|biology
|body
Examples
- She found out she was pregnant after visiting the doctor.
- The couple announced that they are expecting their first child.
- My sister is six months pregnant and feeling well.
- Pregnant women should avoid certain types of fish.
- The cat is pregnant and will give birth soon.
Learner examples
- She is pregnant with her first baby.
- My dog is pregnant.
- The woman is three months pregnant.
- Sarah became pregnant last year.
- Her sister is pregnant now.
adjective
literary
B2
property
2
Full of significance or meaning
Having a lot of meaning or importance that is not said directly.
Usage pattern:
a pregnant [pause/moment/look]
Common mistake:
Learners may interpret 'pregnant pause' literally rather than as having significant unspoken meaning.
Synonyms
meaningful (General term for something with significant meaning.)
|
loaded (Informal term suggesting hidden meaning or emotional weight.)
Antonyms
empty (Lacking meaning or significance.)
Collocations
pregnant pause
|pregnant silence
|pregnant look
Themes
emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There was a pregnant pause before he answered.
- Her eyes gave him a pregnant look.
- The room fell into a pregnant silence after the remark.
- He took a deep breath during the pregnant moment before his speech.
Learner examples
- There was a pregnant pause in the room.
- She gave him a pregnant look.
- We sat in a pregnant silence.
- It was a pregnant moment before the game started.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pregnant
IPA
GB/pɹˈɛɡnənt/
US/pɹˈɛɡnənt/
Syllables & stress
preg - nant (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (preg)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: pregnant
Word family
Expressions
get pregnant
1/ɡˈɛt pɹˈɛɡnənt/
fixed phrase
To become with child
To start having a baby growing inside your body.
Examples
- She got pregnant at the age of 30.
- They have been trying to get pregnant for two years.
heavily pregnant
1/hˈɛvɪli pɹˈɛɡnənt/
fixed phrase
Far along in pregnancy
Being in the later months of pregnancy.
Examples
- She was heavily pregnant when they moved house.
- The actress appeared heavily pregnant at the event.
pregnant pause
1/pɹˈɛɡnənt pˈɔz/
idiom
literary
A pause full of unspoken meaning
A short time of silence that feels important or full of meaning.
Examples
- There was a pregnant pause before she responded to the question.
- After his confession, a pregnant pause filled the room.
pregnant pause
2/pɹˈɛɡnənt pˈɔz/
idiom
Meaningful or tense silence
A silence that feels important because people expect something to happen or be said.
Examples
- There was a pregnant pause before he finally told the truth.
- She let the pregnant pause hang in the air before continuing.