breed with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "breed with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing reproduction, particularly in relation to animals or genetics. Example: "The farmer decided to breed with the best livestock to improve the quality of his herd."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Then even if the fish do escape, they cannot breed with wild salmon.

The New York Times

A male lechwe has a chance to become dominant and thus breed with many females.

The Economist

That means the insects must be traveling remarkable distances to breed with each other.

Science Magazine

This majestic, highly endangered animal, living in captivity for 15 years, forced to breed, with no chance of freedom.

Huffington Post

But she won't be allowed to breed with Baraka, either.

The New Yorker

Sussex spaniels are a rare breed with a small gene pool, Sommer said.

The New York Times - Sports

In some countries, feral cats routinely breed with their wildcat cousins.

The New Yorker

"You have to breed with the best interests at heart," Paul said.

The New York Times - Sports

Morons were considered particularly dangerous: they were smart enough to pass undetected and possibly breed with their superiors.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The animals were purebreds or mixed-breed with age ranging from of 8-18 years.

BMC Cancer

Overall, they are a healthy breed with an average lifetime of 10-15 years. 10-15 years

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing animal husbandry or genetics, use "breed with" to specifically denote the act of selecting and mating animals to produce offspring with desired traits.

Common error

Don't use "breed with" when discussing human relationships or reproduction, as it's typically reserved for animals or plants and can sound insensitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "breed with" functions as a verb phrase, specifically indicating the action of mating or crossing animals or plants for reproductive purposes. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in contexts related to animal husbandry and genetics.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "breed with" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the process of mating animals or plants for reproduction. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent use across various sources, including news media, scientific publications, and wikis. While "breed with" is typically used in contexts related to animal husbandry and genetics, it's important to avoid using it anthropomorphically or in reference to human reproduction, as it can be considered insensitive. Alternatives such as "mate with" or "reproduce with" may be more appropriate in certain situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mate with

Replaces "breed" with a synonym emphasizing the act of pairing for reproduction.

copulate with

A more formal term for sexual reproduction, less commonly used in general contexts.

reproduce with

Focuses on the outcome of breeding, emphasizing the creation of offspring.

interbreed with

Highlights the crossing of different breeds or species during reproduction.

cross with

Emphasizes the genetic mixing that occurs when different types of organisms reproduce.

procreate with

A more formal and general term for reproduction.

generate offspring with

Describes the outcome of breeding in terms of creating new individuals.

spawn with

Often used for aquatic animals, indicating the release of eggs and sperm.

propagate with

Commonly used in the context of plant reproduction.

hybridize with

Specifically refers to creating hybrids through crossbreeding.

FAQs

How can I use "breed with" in a sentence?

The phrase "breed with" is typically used to describe the act of mating animals or plants for reproduction, as in "The farmer decided to breed with his prize-winning bull".

What's a suitable alternative to "breed with"?

Depending on the context, you could use "mate with" or "reproduce with" as alternative phrases.

Is "breed with" appropriate for discussing human reproduction?

No, "breed with" is generally not appropriate for discussing human reproduction. It is better to use terms like "have children with" or "reproduce with" in that context.

How does "interbreed with" differ from "breed with"?

"Interbreed with" specifically refers to breeding between different species or varieties, while "breed with" is a more general term for reproduction within the same species or variety. For example, "domestic cats can "interbreed with" wild cats", but you can also simply say, "farmers can "breed with" their best cows".