father 1 of 2

noun

ˈfä-t͟hər How to pronounce father (audio)
Definition of fathernext
1
as in dad
a male human parent the special relationship that exists between fathers and sons

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2
as in founder
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor Sir Isaac Newton is regarded by many as the father of modern science

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in grandfather
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent our fathers founded this nation on the fundamental belief that no person is entitled to rule by divine right

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in Lord
capitalized the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe let us ask humbly for the blessings of our Father in heaven

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father

2 of 2

verb

as in to sire
to become the father of Paul Revere somehow found room in his small house for the large family he had fathered

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of father
Noun
In Yorba Linda, the father of a 12-year-old was charged after the child was injured while riding a modified e-motorcycle. — Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026 His father played banjo and saxophone while his mother played piano, per Concord. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
Verb
Prosecutors also alleged King fathered a child through an extra-marital affair and threatened the child’s mother to keep quiet. — Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 June 2026 There is a quiet revolution going on in America, and definitely in Atlanta, in how contemporary men are fathering. — Felicia Feaster, AJC.com, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for father
Recent Examples of Synonyms for father
  1. dad
  2. founder
  3. grandfather
  4. sire
  5. daddy
  6. creator
  7. ancestor
  8. spawn
Noun
  • A little boy climbed onto his dad’s lap to get a better view.
    — Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • Brittany Mahomes, co-owner of the KC Current and wife of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, has taken the couple’s children to visit dad at camp the last two summers.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
Definition of dad
Noun
  • However, not everyone feels it, said Wes Schroll, founder and chief executive officer of Fetch, which runs an app where consumers can get rewards for uploading receipts and that data is anonymized for brands’ market research.
    — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • La Nueva De Zacatecas began in Zacatecas, Mexico nearly 60 years ago, when founder Don Arsenio Vázquez Muñoz started his first tortilla shop, called La Nueva.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
Definition of founder
Noun
  • Prince William was the first high-ranking member of the British Royal Family to attend Eton College, forgoing Gordonstoun which his father, King Charles III, and paternal grandfather, Prince Philip, attended.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 23 July 2026
  • His mom and dad employed about a dozen people at the welding and machine shop that his grandfather founded in 1938 in Silver Spring, Md.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 July 2026
Definition of grandfather
Verb
  • Gun Runner’s stable still has the brass nameplate of its former occupant, legendary 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, who also sired an impressive line of runners.
    — Graham Cornwell, New York Times, 19 June 2026
  • He was brought to the United States that year, and has since sired four calves.
    — Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2026
Definition of sire
Noun
  • In the black-and-white photo, the daddy-daughter duo appeared to be spending some quality time together.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • In their respective grief, mommy issues, daughter issues, and, in the case of Armand and Daniel, daddy issues, our vampires are giving each other a run for their money over who is the most beautiful, most unwell.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Definition of daddy
Noun
  • Users want to find a specific creator or campaign in seconds, not scroll through marketing copy.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • This merger is lawful, pro-competitive, and will benefit consumers, creators, workers, and the entertainment industry.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 20 July 2026
Definition of creator
Noun
  • At some point in the mid-1850s, the river Padma suddenly carved a new path through the village of his ancestors in modern-day Bangladesh, flooding their homes and scattering them across the Indian subcontinent.
    — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
  • All across the United States, federal soldiers rounded up our Native American ancestors like cattle, pushing them into prison camps, many of which later became reservations.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Definition of ancestor
Verb
  • It was supposed to be a heartwarming tale of triumph, but its making has spawned a saga of its own.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • That outbreak spawned nearly two dozen tornadoes statewide and is remembered as the fifth-largest outbreak in state history.
    — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 21 July 2026
Definition of spawn

Phrases Containing father

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fatheads
father
fathered
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Cite this Entry

“Father.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/father. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on father

Nglish: Translation of father for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about father

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