nourishing
Americanadjective
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nourishing
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“They reflect a trend of eating in a nourishing way,” said Marie Bragg, associate professor of population health at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
Padma was about bringing these kinds of conversations together in a nourishing space — like over a beautiful meal — to invite care and participation.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026
"Instead of being solely focused on athletics, I'm making sure that I'm nourishing some things away from the track," she adds.
From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026
Preparing food becomes a regulatory act — a way to channel overwhelming emotion into something tactile and nourishing.
From Salon • Feb. 15, 2026
The sea air was nourishing and gave her hope.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
