Nurture — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈnər-chər/ nur·ture

Meaning & Definition of Nurture

Nurture (noun)

  1. training, upbringing
  2. something that nourishes, food
  3. the sum of the environmental factors influencing the behavior and traits expressed by an organism

Nurture (verb)

  1. to supply with nourishment
  2. educate
  3. to further the development of, foster

Nurture (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to help the growth or development of

    "wanted to find the art school that would best nurture his artistic talent"

    similar: advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, incubate, nourish, nurse, promote
    related: advocate, back, champion, endorse, support, uphold, endow, finance, fund, patronize, stake, subsidize, underwrite, abet, aid, assist, advertise, boost, plug, publicize, tout, agitate (for), campaign (for), work (for)
    opposite: discourage, frustrate, hinder, inhibit
    near: ban, bar, enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prevent, prohibit, proscribe, battle, combat, contend (with), counter, fight, oppose, repress, snuff (out), squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress, arrest, check, halt, retard, encumber, fetter, hobble, impede, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle

  2. to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding

    "she feels that her lifelong practice of reading the Bible daily has nurtured her in ways she cannot describe"

    similar: edify, educate, enlighten, illume, illuminate, illumine, inspire
    related: elevate, ennoble, enrich, ensoul, lift, uplift, better, improve, regenerate, renew, transform, exalt, glorify, transfigure
    near: confuse, perplex, puzzle, becloud, cloud, darken, obscure

  3. to supply with nourishment

    "nurtured their children through the long winters with home-cooked soup"

    similar: nourish, sustain
    related: sate, satiate, satisfy, nurse, suckle, cloy, fill, surfeit, fortify, replenish, strengthen, feed, board, cater, provision, victual

Nurture (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in diet, nourishment

    similar: diet, nourishment, sustenance, aliment, nutriment, bread, chow, chuck (chiefly West), comestibles, eatables, eats, edibles, fare, food, foodstuffs, grub, meat, provender, provisions, table, tucker (chiefly Australian), viands, victuals, vittles, ensilage, feed, fodder, forage, silage, slop, swill, feast, meal, refreshments, regale, repast, spread, board, commissary, rations, supplies, dish, plate, platter, serving, finger food, natural food

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Nurture

The most common words with a similar meaning to Nurture:

Chiefly West: chuck
Chiefly Australian: tucker
advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, incubate, nourish, nurse, promote, edify, educate, enlighten, illume, illuminate, illumine, inspire, sustain, diet, nourishment, sustenance, aliment, nutriment, bread, chow, comestibles, eatables, eats, edibles, fare, food, foodstuffs, grub, meat, provender, provisions, table, viands, victuals, vittles

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Nurture

Words with the opposite meaning of Nurture:

discourage, frustrate, hinder, inhibit

Related Words for Nurture

advocate, back, champion, endorse, support, uphold, endow, finance, fund, patronize, stake, subsidize, underwrite, abet, aid, assist, advertise, boost, plug, publicize, tout, agitate (for), campaign (for), work (for), elevate, ennoble, enrich, ensoul, lift, uplift

Near Antonyms of Nurture

ban, bar, enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prevent, prohibit, proscribe, battle, combat, contend (with), counter, fight, oppose, repress, snuff (out), squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress, arrest, check, halt, retard, encumber, fetter, hobble, impede

Word Forms of Nurture

Inflections: nurtured, nurturing

Derived words: nurturer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Nurture

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 nourish

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Nurture

What does "Nurture" mean?

"Nurture" means training, upbringing. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: training, upbringing. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Nurture"?

Other words for "Nurture" include advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, incubate and nourish. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Nurture" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Nurture"?

There are 116 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Nurture". Common alternatives include advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, incubate, nourish, nurse and promote.

What is the opposite of "Nurture"?

Antonyms of "Nurture" include discourage, frustrate, hinder and inhibit. Near antonyms include ban, bar, enjoin and forbid.

How do you use "Nurture" in a sentence?

Examples of "Nurture" in a sentence: "wanted to find the art school that would best nurture his artistic talent"; "she feels that her lifelong practice of reading the Bible daily has nurtured her in ways she cannot describe"; "nurtured their children through the long winters with home-cooked soup".

Is "Nurture" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Nurture" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Nurture"?

"Nurture" is pronounced /ˈnər-chər/ and divided into syllables as nur·ture.

What is the origin of the word "Nurture"?

"Nurture" comes from 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 nourish. First known use: 14th century.