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

“You could still buy a home. You could still see yourself nurturing L.A., but also L.A. nurturing you,” Guerra said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026

That has got to be one of the most vivid descriptions of a healthy relationship with money: You are nurturing the excess energy from all of the work you have done throughout the years.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

I’m a journalist and writer by trade, so I’ve refocused on nurturing my craft.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

Ackman said its management had "done an excellent job nurturing and continuing to build a world-class artist roster and generating strong business performance".

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Jimmy Goble had been the love of Katherines youth, a nurturing father, and the partner she expected to grow old with.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Related Words

• sustenance