What does "baby" mean?
A very young human, particularly from birth to a couple of years old or until walking is fully mastered.
Baby
/ˈbeɪ̯.bi/ adj, name, noun, verb, slang
adj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A very young human, particularly from birth to a couple of years old or until walking is fully mastered.
- Grammar: baby is listed as adj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: infant, sweetheart, babe, darling.
- Useful contrasts: adult, aged, developed.
- Usage evidence: On May 18, a young Japanese couple was arrested after their one-year-old baby was found wrapped in a plastic bag and dumped in a gutter.
How to use "baby"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "baby" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "baby" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "baby" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "baby" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "baby" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "infant" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "baby", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A very young human, particularly from birth to a couple of years old or until walking is fully mastered.
"The baby new to earth and sky, What time his tender palm is prest Against the circle of the breast, Has never thought that ‘this is I:’ […]"
- 2 a project of personal concern to someone wordnet
- 3 A very young human, even if not yet born.
"When is your baby due?"
- 4 a very young mammal wordnet
- 5 Any very young animal, especially a vertebrate; many species have specific names for their babies, such as kittens for the babies of cats, puppies for the babies of dogs, and chicks for the babies of birds. See :Category:Baby animals for more.
Show 15 more definitions
- 6 the youngest member of a group (not necessarily young) wordnet
- 7 A person who is immature, infantile, or feeble.
"Stand up for yourself – don't be such a baby!"
- 8 a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk wordnet
- 9 A person who is new to or inexperienced in something.
"I only qualified as an architect this summer, so I'm still a baby."
- 10 an unborn child; a human fetus wordnet
- 11 The lastborn of a family; the youngest sibling, irrespective of age.
"Adam is the baby of the family."
- 12 a beloved person; used as terms of endearment wordnet
- 13 A person's romantic partner; a term of endearment used to refer to or address e.g. one's girlfriend, boyfriend, or spouse.
"Too busy thinking about my baby, and I ain't got time for nothing else."
- 14 an immature childish person wordnet
- 15 A form of address to a person considered to be attractive. informal
"Hey baby, what are you doing later?"
- 16 A concept or creation endeared by its creator.
"This test program I've designed is my new baby."
- 17 A pet project or responsibility.
"You need to talk to John about that – it's his baby."
- 18 An affectionate term for anything.
"See my new car here? I can't wait to take this baby for a drive."
- 19 A small image of an infant; a doll. archaic
- 20 One who is new to an identity or community. attributive, often
"baby queer; baby trans"
Verb
- 1 To coddle; to pamper somebody like an infant. transitive
"[…] though he tried to be gruff and mature, he yielded to her and was glad to be babied."
- 2 treat with excessive indulgence wordnet
- 3 To tend (something) with care; to be overly attentive to (something), fuss over. transitive
"In the past 27 years, "Mr. Mac," as he is known to his 46,000 teammates, has built and babied his McDonnell Co. from nothing into a $1 billion-a-year corporation."
Adjective
- 1 Picked when small and immature (as in baby corn, baby potatoes). usually
- 2 Newest (overall, or in some group or state); most inexperienced.
"Mrs. Paull held out her hand to the babyest of the quartette, as they tiptoed up to the bed. “Lift her up, please, Marie!” she said, motioning to the place enclosed by her arm. When the rosy cheek touched hers upon the pillow, she asked ..."
- 3 Like or pertaining to a baby, in size or youth; small, young.
"Spider. Here let us begin at the beginning, at the babyest of books for Edith's nursery."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Antonyms
Example
"On May 18, a young Japanese couple was arrested after their one-year-old baby was found wrapped in a plastic bag and dumped in a gutter."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "baby"?
Common synonyms include: infant, sweetheart, babe, darling, honey, adolescent.
How do you use "baby" in a sentence?
On May 18, a young Japanese couple was arrested after their one-year-old baby was found wrapped in a plastic bag and dumped in a gutter.
How do you pronounce "baby"?
Pronounced /ˈbeɪ̯.bi/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English baby, babie (“baby”), a diminutive form of babe (“babe, baby”), equivalent to babe + -y/-ie (“endearing and diminutive suffix”). Perhaps ultimately imitative of baby talk (compare babble).
Etymology 2
Two main origins: * Borrowed from Malayalam ബേബി (bēbi), a surname typically found in Kerala. * Borrowed from French Baby.