# ministering

/ˈmɪnɪstɹɪŋ/ (US) · /mˈɪnɪstəɹɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ministering
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

to help and care for people in need, such as people who are sick or poor. You use it for kind, personal help, often given quietly.

For teachers: to attend to the needs of others, especially those who are sick, poor, or in distress, often in a religious or pastoral context. Implies direct personal care and service.

## Examples

- She spends weekends ministering to elderly neighbours.
- The nurse spent the night ministering to patients in the crowded ward, bringing water and comfort.
- After the flood, volunteers moved quietly among the shelters, ministering to displaced families with food, blankets, and steady conversation.

## Synonyms

help, care, Nurse, tend

## Antonyms

neglect, harm

## Usage notes

- Typically followed by 'to' when naming the people helped, as in 'ministering to the sick'.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.