# nurture

/ˈnɝtʃɝ/ (US) · /nˈɜːtʃɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nurture
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to foster development

verb · CEFR B2

to help a person, an idea, or a skill grow and develop over time.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Often used with abstract nouns like 'talent', 'ambition', or 'creativity'.

### 2. to care for

verb · CEFR B2

to look after a child, animal, or plant while it is growing.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. environmental influence

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the way you were raised and the environment you grew up in, rather than your genes.

For teachers: 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.

Teaching tip: Almost always taught in the context of the 'nature versus nurture' debate in social sciences.

## Examples

- Parents work hard to nurture their children's talents.
- The mentor spent years trying to nurture the young artist's unique style by providing both criticism and encouragement.
- The debate over whether personality is shaped by nature or nurture remains a central theme in psychology, though most modern researchers agree that both factors interact significantly.

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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.