Definition

1. Verb:
   • To come into existence through the process of birth: This verb describes the event of a baby or animal beginning its life outside its mother's womb. It is almost always used in the passive voice.

Usage

• The verb "be born" is used to state the time, date, place, or circumstances of a person's or sometimes an animal's birth.
• It is an intransitive verb phrase and is always used with a form of the verb "be" (am, is, are, was, were, etc.).
• It is commonly followed by prepositional phrases beginning with "in," "on," "at," or "to."

Examples

• Verb:
  • He was born in Paris.
  • The idea for the novel was born during her travels. (Figurative use)
  • Three kittens were born last night.

Advanced Usage

• "To be born into": To enter a particular family, social class, or set of circumstances at birth.
  • She was born into a family of musicians.
• "To be born with": To have a particular characteristic, trait, or condition from birth.
  • He was born with a natural talent for painting.
• Figurative Use: Can describe the origin or inception of an idea, movement, or institution.
  • A new era of peace was born from the negotiations.

Variants and Related Words

• Birth (n): The act or process of being born.
  • The birth of their child was a joyous occasion.
• Newborn (adj/n): Recently born.
  • The newborn calf was very weak.
• Inborn (adj): Existing from birth; innate.
  • She has an inborn sense of rhythm.

Synonyms

• Come into the world: A more descriptive phrase for being born.
• See the light of day: An idiomatic expression meaning to be born or to come into existence.

Related Phrases

• Born and bred: Used to emphasize that someone has lived in a particular place since they were born and it has shaped their character.
  • He's a Londoner, born and bred.
• Born yesterday: An idiom used to suggest someone is not naive or easily fooled (usually in the negative: "I wasn't born yesterday").
  • Do you think I'd believe that story? I wasn't born yesterday.

Notes

• The past participle of the verb is "born." Do not confuse it with "borne," which is the past participle of "bear" meaning to carry.
• "Be born" is a fixed phrase. You cannot say "born" alone as a verb in standard usage (e.g., "I born in 1990" is incorrect; it must be "I was born in 1990").

Verb

1. come into existence through birth
   • She was born on a farm