# born

/ˈbɔɹn/ (US) · /bˈɔːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/born
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. coming into the world

verb · CEFR A1

to come out of your mother's body at the start of your life.

For teachers: the past participle of 'bear' used almost exclusively in the passive voice to denote the beginning of life.

- The twin sisters were born on a very cold day in January.
- He was born into a family of musicians, which meant he was surrounded by classical performances from his earliest infancy.

Usage: Almost always used in the passive voice with the verb 'to be'.

### 2. natural talent

adjective · CEFR B2

having a certain quality or ability from the moment you are born.

For teachers: possessing a specific quality, character, or talent innately or by nature.

- She is a born leader who always knows how to help the team.
- The coach quickly realized that the young striker was a born athlete, possessing a level of coordination that usually takes years to develop.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.