plural babies
1
a(1)
: an extremely young child
especially : infant
—sometimes used of an adult daughter or son to express parental nostalgia or affection
She just had a baby.
I hear the baby crying.
Our baby has gone off to college.
You'll always be my baby.
(2)
: an extremely young animal
b
: the youngest of a group
He is the baby of the family.
2
a
: one that is like a baby (as in behavior)
When it comes to getting shots, I'm a real baby.
b
: something that is one's special responsibility, achievement, or interest
The project was his baby.
3
1
: of, relating to, or being an extremely young child
a baby bonnet
2
: much smaller than the usual
baby carrots
a baby grand piano
Take baby steps.
babied; babying
1
: to tend to indulge with often excessive or inappropriate care and solicitude
babying their only child
2
: to use or treat with care
babying a sore knee
Examples of baby in a Sentence
Noun I hear the baby crying. The baby is just learning to crawl. a bird and its babies My sister is the baby of the family. “Only 32? Oh, you're just a baby!” When it comes to getting shots, I'm a real baby. Don't be such a baby—you'll get your turn. Nothing's gone right since my baby went away. Verb That boy will never learn to stand up for himself if you don't stop babying him. He was babying his injured foot.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Apr. 2026 The two women were together in the delivery room when the baby was born the following spring. —Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026 Each new piece was crafted to be simple, functional, and beautiful, giving parents peace of mind and babies a nurturing space to grow. —Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for baby
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Patagonian Scallops Tiny baby button scallops, so cute. —Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Apr. 2026 The two women were together in the delivery room when the baby was born the following spring. —Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
The brothers were each two years apart in age, but younger siblings were never babied; Nick recalled being on the receiving end of numerous pummelings by his older brothers. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026 Each new piece was crafted to be simple, functional, and beautiful, giving parents peace of mind and babies a nurturing space to grow. —Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for baby
Cite this Entry
“Baby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/baby. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
baby
2 of 3 adjective
1
: being or relating to a baby
a baby deer
my baby sister
baby clothes
2
: much smaller than usual
a baby grand piano
baby carrots
baby
3 of 3 verb
babied; babying
1
: to use or treat as a baby : pet
2
: to operate or treat with care
babied the car
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