# newborn

/ˈnubɔɹn/ (US) · /njˈuːbɔːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/newborn
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a very young baby

noun · CEFR A2

a baby that is only a few days or weeks old.

For teachers: an infant in the first few weeks of life.

- The hospital has a special room where nurses look after the newborns.
- The pediatrician explained that a newborn's sleep patterns are often irregular during the first month of life.

### 2. recently born

adjective · CEFR A2

describes a person or animal that has just been born.

For teachers: recently born; used to describe the state of an infant or animal immediately following birth.

- The newborn lambs were already trying to walk across the field.
- The documentary captured the newborn sea turtles as they made their perilous journey from the sand to the ocean.

### 3. reborn or changed

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary

feeling like a new person, often after a big change in your life.

For teachers: metaphorically reborn or possessing a renewed sense of purpose or identity.

- After his long holiday, he felt like a newborn man with plenty of energy.
- She emerged from the spiritual retreat with a newborn sense of clarity regarding her future career.

## Examples

- The newborn sleeps for most of the day.
- The hospital provides a specialized ward for newborns who require extra medical attention after birth.
- Pediatricians monitor a newborn's reflexes and weight gain closely during the first month to ensure the infant is meeting critical developmental milestones.

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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.