nurturing

American  

[nur-cher-ing] / ˈnɜr tʃər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. providing food, protection, comfort, or support.

   Creating safe, nurturing places where all children can grow and develop their unique gifts is a responsibility of all adult members of a society.

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noun

1. the act of providing food, protection, support, or encouragement.

   There's no substitute for what nurturing can do for a child.

2. the act or process of educating or training.

   We hope to build an ecosystem in this county that encourages incubation, innovation, and nurturing of entrepreneurs.

Etymology

Origin of nurturing

First recorded in 1425–75; nurtur(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective sense; nurtur(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses

Example Sentences

Nurturing the broader corporate adoption of AI could easily work to Nebius’s advantage in the long term.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

Nurturing a growing fetus requires a series of profound physical, hormonal, and chemical changes that may rewire every major organ in the body and can cause serious health complications such as hypertension and preeclampsia.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 22, 2024

Nurturing the community around their bar has been one of Horton’s greatest joys.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 28, 2023

I didn't really start thinking about trauma until I did the research for Nurturing Our Humanity.

From Scientific American • Sep. 28, 2023

“I still do. Every day, at the Nurturing Center, I play bounce-on-the-knee, and peek-a-boo, and hug-the-teddy.”

From "The Giver" by Lois Lowry

Related Words

• sustenance