Word
cultivation
Phoneticscul·ti·va·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌkəɫtɪˈveɪʃən/
UK/kˌʌltɪvˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01growing crops
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of preparing land and growing plants or crops on it.
n. the process of tilling, planting, and tending land for agricultural production.
“The cultivation of rice requires a lot of water and a warm climate.”
“Extensive cultivation of the valley floor has led to significant changes in the local water table over the last decade.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general practice; countable when referring to specific methods.
Synonyms
02developing a skill or quality
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic
n. the act of working hard to develop a specific quality, skill, or feeling.
n. the deliberate development or refinement of a particular faculty, habit, or attribute.
“The cultivation of good study habits is essential for success at university.”
“The philosopher argued that the cultivation of empathy was a prerequisite for any functioning democratic society.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03building relationships
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the effort you put into making a relationship or friendship stronger.
n. the intentional effort to foster and maintain social or professional relationships.
“The manager spent a lot of time on the cultivation of new business partners.”
“Successful diplomacy relies on the careful cultivation of long-term alliances rather than short-term political gains.”
04refinement and education
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Literary · Formal
n. the state of being polite, well-educated, and having good taste.
n. the state of being refined or enlightened through education and social training.
“He was a man of great cultivation who loved opera and classical history.”
“Her letters reveal a woman of extraordinary cultivation, deeply engaged with the intellectual currents of her time.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“For this purpose, he recommended the cultivation of ‘serene, soft, and harmonious’ manners to combat angry, zealous political ‘warfare’.” “According to Schiebinger, it also operated as a process of selection and cultivation, through which some forms of knowledge were preserved and circulated while others were excluded from the bounds of recognized science.” Etymology
From Medieval Latin cultivātus, perfect passive participle of cultivō, + -ion, or Middle French cultivation. By surface analysis, cultivate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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