Word
nurture
Phoneticsnur·ture, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈnɝtʃɝ/
UK/nˈɜːtʃɐ/
Definitions
01to foster development
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to help a person, an idea, or a skill grow and develop over time.
v. to encourage the growth or development of something, such as a talent, a relationship, or a business.
“The teacher worked hard to nurture her students' interest in science.”
“The startup incubator aims to nurture early-stage companies by providing them with both capital and expert mentorship during their first year.”
02to care for
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to look after a child, animal, or plant while it is growing.
v. to provide the necessary care and nourishment for a living thing to reach maturity.
“She carefully nurtured the young plants until they were strong enough to be moved outside.”
“Biologists observed how the mother bear nurtured her cubs through the harsh winter months in the cave.”
Antonyms
03environmental influence
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Academic
n. the way you were raised and the environment you grew up in, rather than your genes.
n. the environmental factors and upbringing that shape an individual's development, often contrasted with genetic inheritance.
“Psychologists often debate whether our personality comes from nature or nurture.”
“The study suggests that nurture plays a more significant role than genetics in determining a child's linguistic proficiency by age five.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
Pitfall
nurture about the project
nurture the project
Nurture is a transitive verb and does not take a preposition before its object.
Real-World Examples
“English literature is an amazing opportunity to nurture a joy of reading, to open minds to other cultures and worlds and wonders.” “Where fathers are expected to nurture as much as provide.” Etymology
From Middle English norture, noriture, from Old French norriture, norreture, from Late Latin nutritura (“nourishment”), from Latin nutrire (“to nourish”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/nurture