nurture
C1Formal, academic, professional, literary. Less common in casual speech.
Definition
Meaning
To care for, protect, and encourage the growth or development of someone or something.
In psychology/sociology, the influence of environment, upbringing, and experience on an individual (as opposed to nature/genetics). As a noun, it refers to this act of nurturing or the resulting care/development.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used in contrast with 'nature' (the innate, genetic influence). Implies sustained, deliberate, and positive effort aimed at development.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning. Slight preference in UK English for 'nurture' in educational/childcare contexts; in US English, also common in business/self-help contexts ('nurture leads', 'nurture talent').
Connotations
Both varieties carry positive connotations of care and cultivation. In academic discourse, it is a neutral technical term.
Frequency
Comparable frequency, though the 'nature vs. nurture' debate is a very common collocation in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
nurture [sb/sth]nurture [sb/sth] in [sth]nurture [sb/sth] to do [sth]nurture [sb/sth] as [sth]be nurtured by [sb/sth]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “nature versus nurture”
- “nurture over nature”
- “a nurturing environment”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to developing client relationships, talent, or new markets (e.g., 'We need to nurture our key accounts').
Academic
Central to debates in psychology, sociology, and education regarding environmental influences on development.
Everyday
Most commonly used about raising children, caring for plants, or supporting someone's ambitions.
Technical
In biology/ecology, can refer to the rearing of young or cultivation of organisms under controlled conditions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The children thrived under the nurture of their foster parents.
- The debate between nature and nurture continues to intrigue scientists.
- The plant showed clear signs of careful nurture.
American English
- Her success was a product of both natural talent and careful nurture.
- The project needed more than just funding; it needed the nurture of a dedicated team.
- They studied the effects of early childhood nurture on later academic achievement.
verb
British English
- The school aims to nurture a love of learning in every pupil.
- She nurtured the seedlings in her greenhouse until they were strong enough to plant out.
- The programme is designed to nurture young athletes from a grassroots level.
American English
- Our company culture nurtures innovation and creative risk-taking.
- He nurtured his network of contacts over many years.
- It's important to nurture those leads with regular follow-up emails.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Parents nurture their babies.
- The gardener nurtures the flowers.
- Good teachers nurture their students' confidence.
- We must nurture this friendship if we want it to last.
- The organisation's policy is to nurture talent from within the company.
- The theory emphasizes the role of nurture over nature in shaping personality.
- Her innate aptitude for languages, nurtured by years of immersion, made her a formidable translator.
- The startup was nurtured through its fragile early stages by a venture capital incubator.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a NURSE (sounds like 'nur-') helping a TURE-tle (sounds like '-ture') grow strong and healthy. A nurse nurtures.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEVELOPMENT IS GROWTH (of a plant); A PERSON IS A PLANT (that needs nurturing); IDEAS/RELATIONSHIPS ARE LIVING THINGS (that require care).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'нянчить' (to babysit/coddle) which is too narrow. 'Nurture' is broader, encompassing education, support, and fostering growth. Closer to 'взращивать', 'воспитывать', 'поддерживать развитие'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a direct synonym for 'teach' or 'instruct' (it's about holistic care, not just imparting knowledge).
- Confusing 'nurture' (verb/noun) with 'nutrition' (noun, only about food).
- Overusing in informal contexts where 'look after', 'raise', or 'support' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'the nurture of new ideas', what is the closest meaning of 'nurture'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while common for children, it's widely used for ideas, talents, relationships, plants, businesses, and skills.
Rarely. Its core meaning is positive. However, it can be used ironically (e.g., 'nurturing a grudge') to imply fostering something negative.
They are very close synonyms. 'Nurture' often implies a deeper, more sustained, and nourishing care, while 'foster' can be more temporary or focused on providing conditions for growth.
It is more formal than 'look after' or 'raise', but not highly technical. It's appropriate in academic, professional, and serious general writing and speech.