born
A1Formal, Informal, Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To have come into existence through the process of birth; to be brought into life.
Used to indicate origin, natural ability, or destiny, often implying an innate or inherent quality from the beginning of one's existence.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Born" is primarily the past participle of "bear" (in the sense of giving birth) and is typically used as an adjective or as part of a passive construction. It denotes the starting point of life, existence, or a particular state or condition.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal differences in core meaning. Spelling differences: 'borne' is the standard past participle for 'bear' in other senses (e.g., 'borne aloft'), while 'born' is specific to birth. US usage may more readily use 'born in' for places; UK usage sometimes prefers 'born at' for specific addresses or small towns, though this is not a strict rule.
Connotations
Connotations are identical: innate talent, natural origin, destined fate.
Frequency
Equally frequent and essential in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be born + PLACE/TIME (I was born in London in 1990)be born + into + FAMILY/CIRCUMSTANCES (born into poverty)be born + with + QUALITY (born with a talent)be born + to + INFINITIVE (born to lead)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “born with a silver spoon in one's mouth”
- “not be born yesterday”
- “in all my born days”
- “born and bred”
- “born again”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used directly. May appear in profiles or biographies: 'She was born into a family of entrepreneurs.'
Academic
Used in historical, biographical, or demographic contexts: 'The cohort born in the post-war period.'
Everyday
Very common for discussing origin, age, and inherent traits: 'Where were you born?' 'He's a born comedian.'
Technical
In medical or biological contexts, refers specifically to the completion of birth: 'The infant was born at 38 weeks.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was born on a cold winter's night.
- The idea was born of necessity during the war.
American English
- She was born in a small Texas town.
- A new movement was born from those protests.
adverb
British English
- Used in compound adjectives: 'a British-born actor'.
American English
- Used in compound adjectives: 'a Chicago-born journalist'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I was born in Madrid.
- My brother was born in 2010.
- She is a born singer.
- He was born into a very musical family.
- The twins were born just five minutes apart.
- She was born with a natural talent for languages.
- The concept of democracy was born in ancient Greece.
- Despite being born into privilege, he chose a life of service.
- He wasn't a born public speaker, but he worked hard at it.
- The project was stillborn due to a lack of initial funding.
- A new star was born on the stage that night.
- His cynicism was born of years of bitter experience.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'BORrow' something that is given to you at the start. You are BORn with certain traits given to you at the start of life.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORIGIN IS A STARTING POINT / INNATE QUALITIES ARE POSSESSIONS FROM BIRTH / DESTINY IS A BIRTHRIGHT
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'Я рождён для...' as 'I am born for...' Use 'I was born to...' or 'I am destined to...'
- Confusion with active/passive: 'My mother born me' is incorrect. Use 'My mother gave birth to me' or 'I was born to my mother.'
- "Born" is not used for inanimate objects coming into existence. Use 'created', 'founded', or 'established' instead.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'borne' incorrectly for birth (e.g., 'She was borne in 2000').
- Using 'born' as an active verb (e.g., 'She born a son').
- Confusing 'born' (adjective/participle) with 'borne' (carried, endured).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'born' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
For stating your birth date/location, always use 'I was born'. 'I am born' is only used in very literary, biblical, or poetic contexts (e.g., 'Today a saviour is born').
'Born' relates exclusively to birth. 'Borne' is the past participle of 'bear' meaning to carry, endure, or give birth to (used actively, e.g., 'She has borne three children', 'The cost was borne by the company').
No. 'Born' is not a main verb by itself. You must use the passive construction with the verb 'to be': 'I *was* born in London'.
Use it as an adjective before a noun: 'a born leader', 'a born artist'. You can also use the pattern 'born to be': 'She was born to be a dancer.'
Collections
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A1 · 44 words · Words for family, people and relationships at home.