Born
/bɔːrn/
verbBeginnerVery CommonGeneral
Meanings
Questions
Definitions
2 meanings1
To come into existence; to be brought into life.
/bɔːrn/
verbneutralBeginner
General
To be brought into existence
He was born on a rainy Tuesday.
💡 Simply: To be brought into the world.
More Examples
2
My daughter was born last year.
How It's Used
General
"She was born in a small village."
Medical
"The baby was born prematurely."
2
Possessing an inherent quality; natural.
/bɔːrn/
adjectivepositiveIntermediate
General
Innate, inherent
She's a born leader.
💡 Simply: Natural; inborn.
More Examples
2
He has a born sense of humour.
How It's Used
Figurative
"He had a born talent for music."
Tip:Think of something you were naturally 'born with'.
From Old English *boren, past participle of *beran "to bear, carry". The meaning shifted from "carried" to "brought forth" to its current meaning.
Historically, 'born' was more commonly used in the passive voice ('He was born').
Memory tip
Think of a mother 'bearing' a child.
Practice
borne
Usage
60%Spoken
40%Written