parenting

American  

[pair-uhn-ting, par-] / ˈpɛər ən tɪŋ, ˈpær- /

noun

1. the rearing of children.

   The schedule allows her very little time for parenting.

2. the methods, techniques, etc., used or required in the rearing of children.

   a course in parenting.

3. the state of being a parent; parenthood.

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adjective

1. of or concerned with the rearing of children.

   good parenting skills.

parenting British  

/ ˈpɛərəntɪŋ /

noun

1. the care and upbringing of a child

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Usage

Parenting has come to be favored over parenthood, rearing, and bringing up in sociological and educational literature and in popular writing.

Etymology

Origin of parenting

First recorded in 1955–60; parent + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

So, after the success of our series The Price of Parenting last year, we saw an opening to pull back the curtain on an expensive, emotional and wildly common life event.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Parenting Truman and later their daughter Willa kept them moving forward, but the sense of loss remained visceral, even if it was not something they felt comfortable talking about with others.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

The findings suggest that long term studies of Parenting Mindfully for Health could provide further insight into reducing childhood obesity risk.

From Science Daily • Mar. 8, 2026

"I was doing every night time, every change… every walk. The role of both mum and dad," Ryan told the BBC's Parenting Download.

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025

“It shows that you are self-aware enough where you can seek to clean up or repair any unfinished business,” says Sarah R. Moore, founder of Dandelion Seeds Positive Parenting, a consulting firm in Boulder, Colo.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 2, 2025