nurture
To care for and encourage growth over time.
Word facts
Definition
To nurture means to care for and encourage the growth or development of someone or something. It implies consistent, patient support over time.
Usage: Nurture implies active, ongoing care aimed at growth. Foster has a similar meaning but also has a specific legal sense (fostering a child). Cultivate is often used for skills or relationships.
Example sentences
- 1
Great teachers nurture curiosity as much as they teach content.
- 2
She spent years nurturing her garden into something beautiful.
- 3
Parents nurture their children through patience and consistent love.
Word family
From Old French norture ('upbringing, rearing'), from Latin nutritura, from nutrire ('to feed, nourish'). Nurture and nourish share the same root.
Nurture rhymes with nature — and nurture is what guides nature to grow well.
Explore this word in Word Lab
FAQ
Questions people ask
What is nature vs nurture?
Nature refers to traits from genetics; nurture refers to traits shaped by upbringing and environment. The debate asks how much each influences who we become.
What is the adjective form of nurture?
Nurturing. Example: She has a nurturing personality that puts people at ease.