barely born

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely born" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to express the idea that someone or something has just come into existence or has only recently been created. For example: "The democracy of this country was barely born when it was already facing its toughest challenge."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

I wasn't there; I was barely born.

The New York Times - Books

Probably not, because she's so intent on keeping her barely born family member anonymous that she certainly would never live-tweet its first 48 hours post-womb.

The Guardian

The 21st century is barely born, yet the folks at Eastman Kodak probably already view the 20th as the good old days.

The New York Times

At Friday's ceremony victims' family members, including some who were barely born at the time, recalled decades of futile struggle to learn the truth.

The Guardian

The Panamanian state was originally created to function on behalf of the rich and self-seeking of this world – or rather their antecedents in America – when the 20th century was barely born.

The Guardian

On a hot July morning, exactly 150 years ago, the armies of the barely born Confederacy and the badly shaken United States surrounded the town of Manassas, not far from a creek called Bull Run, for miles around, in every direction.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

These references are largely lost on the audience; one Friday evening, a man observed that most of the patrons looked as though they had just barely been born in the eighties.

The New Yorker

We're getting dewy-eyed thinking about it, and we'd barely been born at the time.

Vice

Excited by this possibility, listeners rushed to take sides, consecrating heroes and villains, messiahs and impostors of a genre that was barely even born but already so divisive.

Vice

The five piece have just released their self titled debut EP, which is a throwback to the early nineties shoegaze craze, except these guys were barely even born when MBV and Ride were playing the first time around, yet they play just as well as many of the bands from that time.

Vice

I stayed indoors for six weeks after he was born, barely getting dressed.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely born" to emphasize the recent origin of something, whether it's a literal birth or a metaphorical beginning, in order to highlight its nascent stage.

Common error

Avoid using "barely born" only in literal birth contexts. It can effectively describe the initial phase of ideas, movements, or organizations, adding depth to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely born" functions primarily as an adjectival modifier, describing a noun (usually a person, idea, or entity) that is in its earliest stage of existence. As indicated by Ludwig AI, this can refer to both literal births and metaphorical beginnings.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barely born" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to describe something new or in its initial stages, according to Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it functions as an adjectival modifier to emphasize the newness, fragility, or vulnerability of a subject. While alternatives like "newly born" or "recently born" exist, "barely born" often carries a stronger connotation of nascent development. Its versatility allows for both literal and metaphorical applications, making it a useful phrase to add depth to your writing. Remember to use "barely born" to underscore the recent origin of something, be it a tangible birth or the inception of an abstract concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

newly born

Replaces "barely" with "newly", focusing on the recent nature of the birth.

recently born

Emphasizes the short time since birth, similar to "barely born".

just born

Highlights the immediacy of the birth event.

newly emerged

Shifts the focus from literal birth to a broader sense of new appearance or creation.

freshly created

Emphasizes the aspect of creation or formation, rather than just birth.

just starting out

Focuses on the beginning stages of existence or development.

in its infancy

Uses a metaphor to describe something in its early stages of development.

barely existent

Shifts the focus to the tenuous or fragile nature of existence at its earliest stage.

new to the world

Emphasizes the novelty and unfamiliarity associated with something recently born.

fresh off the boat

This idiom is an informal way to refer to someone who is new to a place or situation, emphasizing their lack of experience.

FAQs

How can I use "barely born" in a sentence?

You can use "barely born" to describe something very new, whether literally alive or metaphorically just beginning. For instance, "The movement was "barely born" when it faced its first major challenge."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "barely born"?

Alternatives include "newly born", "recently born", or "just born", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "barely born" more appropriate for literal or figurative uses?

"Barely born" can be used in both literal and figurative contexts. For literal uses, it describes a newborn. Figuratively, it can describe a new idea or organization in its initial stages.

What's the difference between "barely born" and "newly born"?

While both phrases indicate recent birth, "barely born" may emphasize the fragility or vulnerability of the new entity, while "newly born" simply highlights the recent arrival.