merely born

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "merely born" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that has just come into existence or been created, often emphasizing the simplicity or lack of complexity in that state. Example: "The ideas presented in the meeting were merely born, still in their infancy and needing further development."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Perhaps Nicky was merely born with a little bit more Earl in him.

The New York Times - Sports

This wasn't merely born of a patronising attitude to smaller clubs: Sampdoria had form – or rather lack of it – in this area.

The Guardian - Sport

They are not merely born to perpetuate humanity but to live in an equitable society with options to pursue their own interests.

BBC

John's people go back all the way to the Mayflower, but I was merely born here, the child of immigrants who came to Maine in the wake of the Korean War.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Every one of these titles bears the hallmark of greatness because their author was not merely a born storyteller but also a master stylist, a literary craftsman engaged on an eternal search for the mot juste.

The Guardian - Books

Merely being born black in America leaves one vulnerable to the lingering effects of slavery and Jim Crow even today.

Huffington Post

Being a natural blonde merely means being born with yellow hair -- but us, we have worked to earn our way into this club.

Huffington Post

"The old prejudices - women are animals, less than human, unable to think like men, born merely to breed and serve men - were not so easily dispelled by the crusading feminists, by science and education, and by the democratic spirit after all.

The Guardian

According to Fitzgibbons, the rumours surrounding Cromwell's body immediately after his death are "merely good yarns born out of over-active imaginations".

Wikipedia

The High Court held that to come within the definition, one must be shown to be an orthodox Muslim and must have outwardly manifested and practiced Islam; merely having been born into that religion was insufficient.

Wikipedia

Casares's work was never as concentrated as that of Borges, and some of his most striking work arose when his writing was born not merely from an abstract idea, but derived a second level of interest from its links with Argentine reality outside.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "merely born", ensure the context clearly indicates that you are emphasizing the simplicity or basic nature of something's origin, rather than any inherent qualities or potential.

Common error

Avoid using "merely born" when you intend to highlight the potential or significance of something's origin. The phrase is best used to downplay importance, not to amplify it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "merely born" functions as an adverbial modifier combined with a past participle. It describes a state of being, emphasizing the uncomplicated origin of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "merely born" is used to emphasize the simplicity and lack of inherent complexity in something's origin. Grammatically sound and neutrally registered, it finds its place across various contexts, particularly in news, wiki and science, as seen from Ludwig's examples. When employing this phrase, ensure the context reflects your intention to downplay significance rather than highlight potential. Alternatives such as "just born", "newly born" or "simply born" provide nuanced options for expression, as Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just born

Emphasizes the recentness of the birth or origin.

newly born

Highlights the novelty and freshness of the birth or creation.

simply born

Stresses the uncomplicated nature of the birth or origin, downplaying any special circumstances.

only born

Indicates that being born is the sole or primary characteristic.

naturally born

Focuses on the inherent or innate quality of being born.

innately created

Emphasizes the inherent nature of something at its creation.

inherently originated

Highlights that the origin is a fundamental characteristic.

purely originated

Focuses on the unadulterated and simple start of something.

exclusively created

Emphasizes that the creation happened in a single way.

solely derived

Indicates that something's derivation comes from one single origin.

FAQs

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

You can use "merely born" to emphasize that something's existence or characteristics are basic or simple from its origin. For example, "The ideas presented in the meeting were "merely born", still in their infancy and needing further development."

What does "merely born" mean?

"Merely born" suggests that something's origin or existence is simple or basic, without inherent complexity or special qualities. It downplays significance rather than highlighting potential.

Which phrases are similar to "merely born"?

Alternatives include phrases like "just born", "newly born", or "simply born", each with a slight shift in emphasis but retaining the core idea of recent or uncomplicated origin.

Is it correct to say "only born" instead of "merely born"?

While "only born" can be used in some contexts, it often implies exclusivity or limitation more strongly than "merely born", which focuses on simplicity or lack of inherent complexity.