nurture
Help something grow
Nurture is care and support that helps something develop and thrive.
Parents nurture children, teachers nurture talent, gardeners nurture plants.
The word emphasizes sustained attention over time: She nurtured his interest in music from an early age.
As a noun, nurture is the environmental side of the nature-versus-nurture debate—what shapes us through upbringing rather than genetics.
Concern for others' distress
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- warmthHeat you feel
- gentlenessSoft, kind demeanor
kindness · love · devotion · attentiveness · comfort · solace · protection · concern
Childhood care and training
- motherhoodState of being a female parent
- fatherhoodState of being dad
- bondingForming close connections
- attachmentConnection or fondness
guidance · infancy · toddlers · adolescence · maternity · paternity · lullabies · bedtime
Progress toward maturity
- flourishingProspering vigorously
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- cultivationFostering growth through care
- bloomingProducing flowers now
budding · ripening · unfolding · progression · enrichment · fostering · germination · sprouting
Advice for decisions
- encouragementSupport spurring continued effort
- coachingGuiding others to improve
- tutoringIndividual academic guidance
- mentoringAdvising someone less experienced
apprenticeship · sponsorship · advocacy · championing · guardianship · stewardship · role model · protégé
To uphold or sustain
- maintainKeep in condition
- sustainKeep something going continuously
- preserveProtect from loss
- bolsterStrengthen or buttress
uphold · reinforce · strengthen · continuing · persistence · endurance · steadfast · consistent
Means of living
- feedingGiving food to
- nourishingPromoting health through food
- vitaminsEssential organic nutrients
- mineralsInorganic natural solids
nutrients · fortification · diet · meal · provisions · breastmilk · formula · wholesome
compassion
Concern for others' distress
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- warmthHeat you feel
gentleness · kindness · love · devotion · attentiveness · comfort · solace · protection · concern · empathy
upbringing
Childhood care and training
- motherhoodState of being a female parent
- fatherhoodState of being dad
- bondingForming close connections
attachment · guidance · infancy · toddlers · adolescence · maternity · paternity · lullabies · bedtime · storytime
development
Progress toward maturity
- flourishingProspering vigorously
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- cultivationFostering growth through care
blooming · budding · ripening · unfolding · progression · enrichment · fostering · germination · sprouting · blossoming
guidance
Advice for decisions
- encouragementSupport spurring continued effort
- coachingGuiding others to improve
- tutoringIndividual academic guidance
mentoring · apprenticeship · sponsorship · advocacy · championing · guardianship · stewardship · role model · protégé · instruction
support
To uphold or sustain
bolster · uphold · reinforce · strengthen · continuing · persistence · endurance · steadfast · consistent · ongoing
sustenance
Means of living
- feedingGiving food to
- nourishingPromoting health through food
- vitaminsEssential organic nutrients
minerals · nutrients · fortification · diet · meal · provisions · breastmilk · formula · wholesome · replenishment
- developmentgrowth, progress, advancement, expansion, improvement
- caregivingcaregiver, take care, look after, compassionate care, watch over
- verbsjump, be, speak, wait, do
- helpingaid, assist, give a hand, help, helping hand
- empowerment verbsencourage, uplift, support, inspire, enable
- family valueslove, trust, respect, bond, togetherness
- nature versus nurtureDebate over innate versus acquired traits
- nature vs nurtureWhat shapes us more
- nature and nurtureInnate traits and environmental influences
- nurturing environmentSetting promoting healthy development
- nurturing roleSupportive, growth-fostering responsibility
- nurturing instinctInnate urge to protect
nurturing, nurtured, nurtures, nurturer, nurturance, nurturers