nurture

1 of 2

noun

nur·​ture ˈnər-chər How to pronounce nurture (audio)
1
: training, upbringing
With proper focus during early nurture, one can grow into a secure being …Ella Pearson Mitchell
2
: something that nourishes : food
… fed him well, and nourished himself, and took nurture for the road …R. D. Blackmore
3
: the sum of the environmental factors influencing the behavior and traits expressed by an organism
Is our character affected more by nature or by nurture?

nurture

2 of 2

verb

nurtured; nurturing ˈnər-ch(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce nurture (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to supply with nourishment
care for and nurture a baby
2
: educate
nurture kids in clean, colorful rooms with the latest books and learning gadgets.Sue Shellenbarger
3
: to further the development of : foster
nurture his intellectual inclinations.Ray Olson
nurture a friendship
nurturer noun

Did you know?

Which affects a person’s development more, nurture or nature? We can’t answer that question—it’s far outside the lexicographer’s purview—but we can tell you that when nurture was first adopted into the English language in the 14th century it referred, as it does in that question, to training or upbringing, i.e. to the care and attention given to someone or something that is growing or developing. It wasn’t until a century later that the verb nurture settled into the language, first with meanings having to do with feeding and caring for young—meanings nourish had been, er, nurturing for a hundred years. The words come by their overlapping meanings etymologically: both come from the Latin verb nutrire, meaning “to suckle” or “to nourish” (as do the words nutrient, nutritious, nutriment, and nutrition). The figurative use of nurture, meaning “to further the development of,” didn’t arise until the mid-18th century. Mary Wollstonecraft applied it in her 1792 book, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, writing, “Public spirit must be nurtured by private virtue.”

Examples of nurture in a Sentence

Noun Members of the family helped in the nurture of the baby. Verb Teachers should nurture their students' creativity. a professor who nurtures any student who shows true interest in history The study looks at the ways parents nurture their children. You have to carefully nurture the vines if you want them to produce good grapes. She nurtured a secret ambition to be a singer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
His emphasis on creating a fearless environment – one that encourages mistakes, nurtures growth, and develops a self-reflecting and learning culture – marks a sea of change in corporate leadership values, setting a standard for future leaders. Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024 Perhaps there is an academic researcher somewhere willing to explore this fascinating question of nature vs. nurture. James Freeman, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023 Under the new agreement, Small World will collaborate with teams from WMG, ADA and Warner Chappell Music to elevate Small World’s artist and songwriter rosters worldwide and discover, nurture and elevate a new generation of African talent. Chris Eggertsen, Billboard, 30 Nov. 2023 Venerated in some cultures and feared in others, twins have served as emblems of affinity and rivalry and, for scientists and philosophers, as case studies in the search to understand the power of nature over nurture. Christine Rosen, WSJ, 29 Dec. 2023 Simard-Halm remembers having to withstand the judgment of outsiders, who forced on her the assumption that nature counts more than nurture. Emily Bazelon, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2023 These warm, earthy shades nurture and reassure us in times of uncertainty, creating a comforting and harmonious space that’s easy on the eyes. Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2024 Remember, an org chart is a living and breathing thing, so prioritize its nurture. Nani Shaffer, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2023 The organization ignites interest, activates potential, and nurtures careers in tech for girls and women of color ages 7-25. Tanay Howard, Parents, 20 Nov. 2023
Verb
By championing smaller-budget projects and nurturing emerging talents, Hollywood can foster a more dynamic and inclusive creative landscape, ultimately enriching the industry as a whole. Clayton Davis, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 These initiatives underscore the league’s dedication to nurturing civic engagement and dialogue within the community. Yan Zhao, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2024 The house was filled with generations of family furniture and the grounds were full of flowers, shrubs, trees and vegetation Ms. Wyatt had spent years nurturing. Ronda Kaysen, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Shania Twain nurtured her childhood imagination with homemade Barbies Twain was creating her own Barbie world from the start. USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024 For Honey Pot, which was honored as part of Glamour’s 2023 By Women initiative, reclaiming wellness is about fostering an internal connection—nurturing mind, body, and soul through transformative self-care. Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 29 Feb. 2024 Hacker Lab partnered with HP, Kaiser Permanente, SMUD, community colleges, local governments and more on projects that nurtured entrepreneurship in Sacramento. Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 29 Feb. 2024 Sundance also has long featured a wide array of projects from Latino and indigenous filmmakers, and run programs designed to nurture up-and-coming talents with those backgrounds. David Bloom, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Resolution is also working to preserve and nurture other plants culturally important to tribes as well as caring for seeps, springs and waterways on properties the mine owns as wall as preserving ancestral sites. The Arizona Republic, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nurture.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English norture, nurture, from Anglo-French nureture, from Late Latin nutritura act of nursing, from Latin nutritus, past participle of nutrire to suckle, nourish — more at nourish

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nurture was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near nurture

Cite this Entry

“Nurture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nurture. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

nurture

1 of 2 noun
nur·​ture ˈnər-chər How to pronounce nurture (audio)
1
2
: something that nourishes : food

nurture

2 of 2 verb
nurtured; nurturing ˈnərch-(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce nurture (audio)
1
: to supply with nourishment
2
3
: to further the development of : foster

More from Merriam-Webster on nurture

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