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.

---

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

“It took a lot of nurturing, a lot of time, a lot of work.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 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

She said it was a "testimony to how vital regional theatres are in the nurturing of new work."

From BBC • May 10, 2026

“To see NeeDoh come to this moment is spectacular, but it could also quickly deplete a brand we’ve been nurturing for a decade.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

The recommendation of the research department was that Archie Bunker be rewritten as a soft-spoken and nurturing father.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• sustenance