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Definitions

mother

[muhth-er] / ˈmʌð ər /

NOUN

female person who has borne children

Synonyms

STRONGEST

mom parent

STRONG

ancestor creator mommy origin predecessor progenitor source

WEAK

child-bearer forebearer procreator

Antonyms

STRONG

descendant effect end result

WEAK

father

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for mother?

There are many synonyms for mother. The most common is mom, which is an informal, familiar version of mother. The equivalent mum is commonly used in the U.K. and other places. An even more informal and familiar word is mommy, which is especially used by children. A similarly informal word is mama (and its alternate spellings momma and mamma). All of these terms should be capitalized when they’re used as a way of addressing someone (in other words, when they’re used as a name or a substitute for a name). A mother is a parent. A term that specifically references the role of a mother in bearing a child is child-bearer. The term birthing parent is sometimes used as a gender-neutral term in the context of pregnancy and childbirth. A mother who’s the leader of a family might be called a matriarch. Because mothers are traditionally associated with nurture and caregiving, related words are sometimes used as synonyms, such as nurturer and caregiver. Mother is also sometimes used as a verb meaning to care for someone as a mother or like a mother. Sometimes, it’s used in a negative way that implies that a person is smothering or being overbearing toward the person, as in Please don’t mother me—I can take care of myself.

How do you use mother in a sentence?

Mother is most commonly used as a noun, but it can also be a verb. As a noun, it’s capitalized when it’s used as a name or a substitute for a name. Here are some examples of mother in a sentence:

I’ve always wanted to be a mother.
You should really listen to Mother—she has your best interests in mind.
It’s just her nature to try to mother anyone who looks like they need help.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

mother mothers mothered mothering

She also appeared in Coronation Street as Roy Cropper's mother Sylvia Goodwin, which won her another comedy prize, in her 70s, at the 2012 British Soap Awards.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

Her mother, originally from Sinaloa, does workers’ compensation insurance, which provided a stable income and allowed her partner to pursue acting.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

Her mother, who had been a teacher in her native Virginia, took in laundry and sewing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

He tearfully tells his mother that other kids have been calling him “chubby wubby” and asks whether he might get a bicycle so he can exercise.

From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026

The mother called, “Darling, put it down! What is it?”

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

For mothers who left sports behind, getting back in the game takes more than motivation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

It’s about rewarding some mothers and punishing others.

From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026

Young orangutans typically remain with their mothers for several years, learning the skills they need to survive independently.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

Several new mothers battled what looked like postpartum depression.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

“Right, Cornflower, get in the cart and take charge of the mothers and babies,” he said.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

Playing a childless, vain, pitch-perfect vision of Los Angeles’ wickedness in “Maps to the Stars,” Julianne Moore mothered so hard she almost separated California right down the San Andreas fault line.

From Salon ● May 10, 2026

These women had mothered us our entire lives; they deserved to rest after the death of their mami.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2023

"But she also knew that mother is a verb as well as a noun and mothered so many others along the way who needed love and support throughout her life," she said.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2022

Nothing makes you want to be mothered quite so much as becoming a mother yourself.

From New York Times ● Feb. 1, 2022

Davy baked and left cookies on my bed, and she always monitored my health and mothered me with homemade soup when I was sick.

From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos

Ms. Sampson dwells particularly on the author’s weakness for boyish geniuses in need of mothering.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Would my mothering improve before the baby was born?

From Slate ● May 10, 2026

I just really, like, I can’t imagine mothering without their help, because they’re just so in tune to each other.

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2025

Some of the people I know who have the most amazing mothering energy, who mother me the most, are people who don’t have kids.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2025

Instead, she said to me out of the blue, “You don’t get much mothering, do you?”

From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English

Vocabulary lists containing mother

The Mother of All Lists: Mater, Matr

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