nourish

verb

nour·​ish ˈnər-ish How to pronounce nourish (audio)
ˈnə-rish
nourished; nourishing; nourishes

transitive verb

1
: nurture, rear
… to save my boy, to nourish and bring him up …Shakespeare
2
: to promote the growth of
no occasions to exercise the feelings nor nourish passionL. O. Coxe
nourished soccer as a sport in this country
needed to nourish his spiritual life
3
a
: to furnish or sustain with nutriment : feed
Plants are nourished by rain and soil.
b
: maintain, support
their profits … nourish other criminal activitiesBeverly Smith
nourisher noun

Examples of nourish in a Sentence

Vitamins are added to the shampoo to nourish the hair. a friendship nourished by trust
Recent Examples on the Web This foot peel is formulated with a blend of lactic acid, glycolic acid, lemon fruit extract, and papaya fruit extract to deliver a revitalizing peel experience while also soothing and nourishing the skin. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 One hypothesis is that this self-destructive behavior, by nourishing the mother of his children, could simply be the optimal evolutionary strategy. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024 But tamanu oil, far from being toxic, is beneficial, thanks to its high fatty acid content, which aids in nourishing the skin, says cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline. Sophia Panych, Allure, 29 Feb. 2024 Founded by psychologist Alice Haddon and co-founder Ruth Field, the Heartbreak Hotel runs retreats that address romantic heartbreak through one-to-one therapy, group sessions, nourishing food and a little pampering on a bucolic estate in Sussex. Jessica Burrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Feb. 2024 Start by introducing yourself and nourishing the relationship with regular updates about your startup. Jessica Wong, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 First Spray Serum harnesses the antioxidant properties of truffles to help plump and nourish skin, while working to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Tim Chan, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2024 Rifkin says regularly eating leafy greens can nourish your body with a lot of other essential vitamins and minerals as well. Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Scientific American, 16 Feb. 2024 It’s been known for decades that some live-bearing caecilian species produce a secretion in their oviducts to nourish their young internally, thanks to earlier research from Wake. Popular Science, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nourish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English nurishen, from Anglo-French nuriss-, stem of nurrir, norrir, from Latin nutrire to suckle, nourish; akin to Greek nan to flow, noteros damp, Sanskrit snauti it drips

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nourish was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near nourish

Cite this Entry

“Nourish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nourish. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

nourish

verb
nour·​ish ˈnər-ish How to pronounce nourish (audio)
ˈnə-rish
1
: to promote the growth or development of
2
a
: to provide with food : feed
plants nourished by rain and soil
b
: to provide for : support, maintain
a friendship nourished by trust

Medical Definition

nourish

transitive verb
: to furnish or sustain with nutriment : feed

More from Merriam-Webster on nourish

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