1
: a person who cares for the sick or infirm
specifically
: a licensed health-care professional who practices independently or is supervised by a physician, surgeon, or dentist and who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health compare licensed practical nurse, registered nurse
2
3
: one that looks after, fosters, or advises
Time is the nurse and breeder of all good.—
Shakespeare
Shakespeare4
a
: a worker form of a social (see social entry 1 sense 4b) insect (such as an ant or a bee) that cares for the young
b
: a female mammal used to suckle (see suckle sense 1a) the young of another
a nurse cow
nursed; nursing
1
a
: to nourish at the breast : suckle
b
: to take nourishment from the breast of
2
a
: to care for and wait on (someone, such as a sick person)
b
: to attempt to cure by care and treatment
3
a
: to manage with care or economy
nursed the business through hard times
nursed a 1–0 lead
b
: to promote the development or progress of
c
: to take charge of and watch over
4
: to hold in one's memory or consideration
nurse a grievance
5
a
: to use, handle, or operate carefully so as to conserve energy or avoid injury or pain
nurse a sprained ankle
b
: to use sparingly
c
: to consume slowly or over a long period
nurse a cup of coffee
1
a
: to feed at the breast : suck
b
: to feed an offspring from the breast
2
: to act or serve as a nurse
nurser
noun
Synonyms
Examples of nurse in a Sentence
Noun
The nurse will take your blood pressure before the doctor sees you.
Nurse, may I have some water?
Verb
She is nursing her son through his illness.
The couple nursed the business through hard times.
He nursed the farm back to productivity.
The team nursed a 1–0 lead until the last inning.
The dog nursed her puppies.
The baby nursed for several months.
The puppies nursed for eight weeks.
Recent Examples on the WebTIME, 4 Apr. 2024
The nurses held on firmly as the building continued to shake.
—Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
Annica, 33, filed the suit against both Josh, a nurse and United States Army veteran, and an individual named Gavin Vatnsdal, Minnesota court records show.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
When the child got worked up, she’d sometimes be allowed to sit with that social worker or in the nurse's office to calm down.
—Sarah Butrymowicz, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
The mother asked the next nurse on shift for pain medication, but because Olson falsified documents that said the mother was already given pain medicine, the next nurse made the mother wait 30 minutes before providing her with medication, officials said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
Stephanie Jensen, an ER nurse and head of governmental affairs for the Emergency Nurses Association, California State Council, said her organization is simply arguing for equity.
—Sejal Parekh, Sacramento Bee, 1 Apr. 2024
Collective bargaining agreements would supersede the law, so teachers, nurses and other unionized workers would be covered by whatever their contracts say about off-hours communication.
—Heather Knight, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024
His mother, Hellen, was a nurse and his father, Louis Sr., a porter.
—Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Raf Casert, Fortune Europe, 27 Mar. 2024
On the tour bus to the DMZ — which left just after 6:30 a.m. on a chilly Tuesday morning — some fans tried to get some extra sleep and others nursed cups of coffee and Red Bull.
—Mark E. Potts, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Arguments that blow over quickly and hurts that are nursed forever.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024
She has been uprooted half a dozen times in her desperate attempt to flee the violence — first while heavily pregnant, then giving birth and nursing a newborn.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 14 Feb. 2024
Most nineteenth-century American women, whatever their race or wealth or state of servitude, were pregnant or nursing for decades.
—Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Currently nursing a sprained ankle, Schmitt continues to take ground balls at shortstop, but the addition of another third baseman almost assuredly closes his path to a roster spot.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2024
Love affairs, though, often end badly, and this one could leave investors nursing both an aching wallet and a broken heart.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2024
William, nursing a sick wife, dutifully heads back to the royal front line in the selfless tradition of his late grandmother.
—Adela Suliman, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2024
Noun
After the anticipated pinch, the nurse or doctor likely told us something about possible vaccine side effects.
—TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
The nurses held on firmly as the building continued to shake.
—Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
Annica, 33, filed the suit against both Josh, a nurse and United States Army veteran, and an individual named Gavin Vatnsdal, Minnesota court records show.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
When the child got worked up, she’d sometimes be allowed to sit with that social worker or in the nurse's office to calm down.
—Sarah Butrymowicz, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
The mother asked the next nurse on shift for pain medication, but because Olson falsified documents that said the mother was already given pain medicine, the next nurse made the mother wait 30 minutes before providing her with medication, officials said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
Stephanie Jensen, an ER nurse and head of governmental affairs for the Emergency Nurses Association, California State Council, said her organization is simply arguing for equity.
—Sejal Parekh, Sacramento Bee, 1 Apr. 2024
Collective bargaining agreements would supersede the law, so teachers, nurses and other unionized workers would be covered by whatever their contracts say about off-hours communication.
—Heather Knight, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024
His mother, Hellen, was a nurse and his father, Louis Sr., a porter.
—Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
Farmers, police and firefighters all had to nurse injuries, but none were life-threatening.
—Raf Casert, Fortune Europe, 27 Mar. 2024
On the tour bus to the DMZ — which left just after 6:30 a.m. on a chilly Tuesday morning — some fans tried to get some extra sleep and others nursed cups of coffee and Red Bull.
—Mark E. Potts, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Arguments that blow over quickly and hurts that are nursed forever.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024
She has been uprooted half a dozen times in her desperate attempt to flee the violence — first while heavily pregnant, then giving birth and nursing a newborn.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 14 Feb. 2024
Most nineteenth-century American women, whatever their race or wealth or state of servitude, were pregnant or nursing for decades.
—Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Currently nursing a sprained ankle, Schmitt continues to take ground balls at shortstop, but the addition of another third baseman almost assuredly closes his path to a roster spot.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2024
Love affairs, though, often end badly, and this one could leave investors nursing both an aching wallet and a broken heart.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2024
William, nursing a sick wife, dutifully heads back to the royal front line in the selfless tradition of his late grandmother.
—Adela Suliman, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nurse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near nurse
Cite this Entry
“Nurse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nurse. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nurse
1 of 2 noun1
: a woman who has the care of a young child
2
: a person skilled or trained in caring for the sick and in maintaining good health in those who are not sick and who works either independently or under the supervision of a physician
3
: a worker of a social insect (as an ant or bee) that cares for the young
nurse
2 of 2 verb
nursed; nursing
1
: to feed at the breast : suckle
3
: to manage with care or economy
nursed the business through hard times
4
: to care for and wait on (as a young child or sick person)
nursed me back to health
5
: to hold in one's memory
nurse a grudge
6
: to treat with special care
nursed the car over the rough road
nurser
noun
Medical Definition
nurse
1 of 2 noun1
: a person who cares for the sick or infirm
specifically
: a licensed health-care professional who practices independently or is supervised by a physician, surgeon, or dentist and who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health see licensed practical nurse, licensed vocational nurse, registered nurse
2
: a woman who suckles an infant not her own : wet nurse
nurse
2 of 2 verb
nursed; nursing
1
a
: to nourish at the breast : suckle
b
: to take nourishment from the breast of : suck milk from
2
a
: to care for and wait on (as an injured or infirm person)
b
: to attempt a cure of (as an ailment) by care and treatment
1
a
: to feed an offspring from the breast
b
: to feed at the breast : suck
2
: to act or serve as a nurse
Biographical Definition
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