Meaning & use

nurture

verb·Academic

To care for and encourage the growth or development of someone or something.

See it in a sentence

Good teachers nurture curiosity in their students rather than just testing memorized facts.

She spent years nurturing the small business from a single stall into a successful company.

A note on using this word

Nurture is often paired with abstract nouns like talent, relationship, or growth, emphasizing patient, caring support over time.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. noun

The care, encouragement, and environment that support someone's growth or development, especially as opposed to inherited traits.

Psychologists still debate how much of personality comes from nature versus nurture.

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