born

/bɔːn/ (bre, ipa) · [bˈɔrn] /bɔːrn/ (ame, ipa) · [bˈɔrn] /ˈbȯrn/ (ame, mw)

born — verb

  • bornpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • borns3rd person singular
  • borning-ing form
  • bornedpast simple

1. to start life when a baby leaves its mother's body.

1.動詞A2
釋義

to start life when a baby leaves its mother's body.

例句

Mira was born in Tainan during a typhoon on Sunday night.

be born + place and time phrase

Christopher was born two months early but soon grew stronger.

文法句型

be born + time/place phrase

be born + by caesarean section

用法筆記

This sense nearly always appears in the pattern be born. Use give birth when the mother is the subject.

常見錯誤

❌My mother born me in August.
✅My mother gave birth to me in August.
💡the mother gives birth; the baby is born.
❌I am born in Tainan.
✅I was born in Tainan.
💡use be born for a past birth event.

2. used after be to show the place, family, condition, or social position a person

2.動詞B1
釋義

used after be to show the place, family, condition, or social position a person had at the start of life.

例句

Obi was born blind, so he learned Braille in primary school.

be born + adjective

Reema was born into a farming family outside Madurai.

be born into + family

文法句型

be born + adjective

be born into + family/class

be born with + condition

用法筆記

This sense describes what was already true when life began. It does not describe qualities or circumstances somebody gained later.

常見錯誤

❌Rania was born as blind.
✅Rania was born blind.
💡after born, use the adjective directly.
❌He was born in a rich family.
✅He was born into a rich family.
💡use into for the social group or family someone enters at birth.

3. if something such as a plan or feeling is born, it begins to take shape or appea

3.動詞C1
釋義

if something such as a plan or feeling is born, it begins to take shape or appear.

例句

The idea for the app was born during a late-night train ride.

figurative: idea was born

A close friendship was born after the two nurses shared night shifts.

同義詞
  • emerge

    often suggests something appearing gradually rather than in one moment

  • arise

    more formal and often used for situations or problems

文法句型

idea/movement/friendship is born

用法筆記

This figurative sense is often used for ideas, relationships, movements, or feelings. It usually appears in formal or thoughtful writing.

4. used to say a feeling, action, or quality came from a particular cause.

4.動詞C1
釋義

used to say a feeling, action, or quality came from a particular cause.

例句

Her calm answer came from patience born of long experience.

born of + cause

Their anger was born of years of broken promises.

同義詞

文法句型

born of + abstract noun

用法筆記

This pattern is most common with abstract causes such as fear, grief, necessity, or experience. It is more literary than everyday spoken English.

常見錯誤

❌Her courage was born from long practice.
✅Her courage was born of long practice.
💡born of is the usual fixed pattern in this formal sense.

born — adjective