nourishing

[ nur-i-shing, nuhr- ]

adjective

1. promoting or sustaining life, growth, or strength:

   a nourishing diet.

Other Words From

• nourish·ing·ly adverb
• non·nourish·ing adjective
• over·nourish·ing·ly adverb
• self-nourish·ing adjective
• un·nourish·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nourishing¹

1350–1400; Middle English (gerund); nourish, -ing ²

Example Sentences

It’s hard to know if I keep going there for the tikka masala, which is delicious, or the optimism, which is even more nourishing.

From Time

The result is a nourishing, flavorful meal that’s an excellent way to use up any leftover horseradish and soup vegetables you might have from Passover.

From Washington Post

Regardless of the inspiration, I’m thankful for it and happy to share this recipe for a comforting, nourishing and one-pot vegan soup.

From Washington Post

This is my family’s favorite chicken soup, one I make when someone at home is feeling under the weather or needs a little nourishing restoration.

From Washington Post

Lotions are light and tend to be water-based, while thicker creams and ointments have a higher percentage of fats and oils, which are hydrating and nourishing.

From Popular-Science

In effect, then, the resort is harnessing the power of the sun to turn seawater into a nourishing resource—for people and plants.

From The Daily Beast

Yet the dread has an oddly nourishing quality; this dread invigorates.

From The Daily Beast

Everybody knows it, that feeling of entering a park: peeling off the city streets and into that nourishing sense of calm.

From The Daily Beast

Plus, what about the mammalian issues standing up so long might create: the need to eat and drink a nourishing balanced diet?

From The Daily Beast

Turns out, nourishing your body with real food actually makes you feel better.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile Fleurette had her nourishing food, and grew more like the ghost of a lily every day.

From Project Gutenberg

Light and nourishing dishes are prepared for my dinner; a hot-water bottle is placed in my bed; and in the bedroom a fire is lit.

From Project Gutenberg

It attains a prodigious size in those countries where the pasture is rich and nourishing.

From Project Gutenberg

Not only that, but, as they soon discovered, these dishes were fully as invigorating and nourishing as a meat diet.

From Project Gutenberg

Here were good beds, nourishing food, delicacies from the stores of the Christian and Sanitary Commissions, and kind attention.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• wholesome

More About Nourishing

What does nourishing mean?

Nourishing is an adjective that describes things that nourish—do or provide what’s needed for someone or something to be healthy and to grow and develop.

The word is most commonly used in relation to food. Nourishing food is filled with nutrients that help us to grow and stay healthy. A more common word to describe such food is nutritious.

However, nourishing can be used in many other contexts, including those that don’t involve food, as in a nourishing atmosphere for students. 

Example: As a mother, it’s my job to provide my kids with things that are physically, mentally, and emotionally nourishing.

Where does nourishing come from?

The first records of the word nourishing as an adjective come from the 1300s. Its base word, nourish, comes from the Latin verb nūtrīre, meaning “to feed” or “to care for.” The words nurture, nutrition, nutritious, and nurse are based on the same root.

Nourishing is closely associated with food, and even when it’s used in ways that don’t literally involve food, it usually keeps this association. A nourishing relationship helps to nourish you emotionally in the way that food nourishes you physically.

People who don’t get enough nourishing food can become undernourished or malnourished.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to nourishing?

• nourish (verb)

What are some synonyms for nourishing?

• wholesome
• nutritious
• sustaining
• nurturing

What are some words that share a root or word element with nourishing? 

• nourishment
• undernourish
• undernourished
• malnourished
• nurture
• nutrition
• nutritious
• nurse

What are some words that often get used in discussing nourishing?

• food
• feed
• body
• mind
• soul
• spirit
• nutrient
• healthy
• grow
• strong
• develop

How is nourishing used in real life?

Nourishing and its related words are closely associated with food, but they can be used in a variety of contexts.

95% of those saying "It's perfectly possible to cook nourishing food for your children on a budget" actually mean "My Mum wasn't on a budget but would have given it a go."

— Paul Sinha (@paulsinha) October 26, 2020

hi, are you doomscrolling?

It's okay to be tired and overwhelmed. It's reasonable to be sad, frustrated, and angry.

You still deserve nourishing food, adequate rest, as well as screen breaks for your mental health. Very little of this website is worth sacrificing sleep for.

— Karen K. Ho (@karenkho) September 15, 2020

Just like the foundations of a recovery journey, we planted our Cordyline in a nourishing, safe and suitable environment. We are now looking forward to watching it flourish in it's steps of growth ✨ pic.twitter.com/6m8tVSF6rs

— Action on Addiction (@ActionAddiction) November 3, 2020

 

 

Try using nourishing!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of nourishing?

A. wholesome
B. nutritious
C. weakening
D. sustaining