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 WebNathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
With all rooms full, a nurse finally placed him on a bed in a hallway around midnight, surrounded by other patients who appeared intoxicated, and asked about his symptoms again.
—Grace Rubenstein, STAT, 26 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, many nurses, medical technicians and other professionals left the field during COVID, triggering labor shortages, Colyar says.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Labor and delivery nurse Tina Bitangcol says she’s noticed the rise in her workplace.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 24 Apr. 2024
On this week's episode of Dear Media's SHE MD podcast, celebrity baby nurse Nanny Connie chatted with host and former client Mary Alice Haney about some of her experiences working for celebrity clients, sharing one story about Damon, 53, and his wife Luciana Damon, 47.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024
Residents plan to work together to prevent more dumping
Johnson, who inherited her childhood home at 1422 W. Burleigh Street when her parents died, juggles managing the property while also working 12-hour days as a psychiatric nurse.
—Journal Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2024
Juror #2 The second juror, who has since been dismissed, was a woman who lives in Manhattan Upper East Side and works as a nurse.
—Graham Kates, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2024
The nurses are asking for a simple 15% increase in salary compounded over three years, the county is retaliating with a measly 10.5%.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
Philip Elliott, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
One Gazan family nursing a new baby girl, hoping for one day a chance at a normal life.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
Diamond started lactating shortly after her sister Erica gave birth and helped her nurse the pups; now the adult dogs are looking for a home together
Two canine sisters are looking for a home of their own after raising a family together.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
Everyone seems happy to be here, nursing a cocktail.
—Fritz Hahn, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Mothers will leave babies in divots and depressions hidden under vegetation for most of the day while returning for short periods to nurse the babies.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 28 Mar. 2024
Throw a steak, brisket, or pork butt onto a grill, keep an eye on the temperature, and nurse a beer until it’s done.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024
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
Noun
Kaiser Permanente is one of the nation’s largest private nonprofit healthcare organization with 40 hospitals, 618 medical offices, more than 24,000 physicians and 73,000 nurses, according to the company’s website.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
With all rooms full, a nurse finally placed him on a bed in a hallway around midnight, surrounded by other patients who appeared intoxicated, and asked about his symptoms again.
—Grace Rubenstein, STAT, 26 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, many nurses, medical technicians and other professionals left the field during COVID, triggering labor shortages, Colyar says.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Labor and delivery nurse Tina Bitangcol says she’s noticed the rise in her workplace.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 24 Apr. 2024
On this week's episode of Dear Media's SHE MD podcast, celebrity baby nurse Nanny Connie chatted with host and former client Mary Alice Haney about some of her experiences working for celebrity clients, sharing one story about Damon, 53, and his wife Luciana Damon, 47.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024
Residents plan to work together to prevent more dumping
Johnson, who inherited her childhood home at 1422 W. Burleigh Street when her parents died, juggles managing the property while also working 12-hour days as a psychiatric nurse.
—Journal Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2024
Juror #2 The second juror, who has since been dismissed, was a woman who lives in Manhattan Upper East Side and works as a nurse.
—Graham Kates, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2024
The nurses are asking for a simple 15% increase in salary compounded over three years, the county is retaliating with a measly 10.5%.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
Verb
College leaders, their lobbyists, and their donors have been nursing for months a low-simmering anxiety about what a second Donald Trump term would mean for their institutions.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
One Gazan family nursing a new baby girl, hoping for one day a chance at a normal life.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
Diamond started lactating shortly after her sister Erica gave birth and helped her nurse the pups; now the adult dogs are looking for a home together
Two canine sisters are looking for a home of their own after raising a family together.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
Everyone seems happy to be here, nursing a cocktail.
—Fritz Hahn, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Mothers will leave babies in divots and depressions hidden under vegetation for most of the day while returning for short periods to nurse the babies.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 28 Mar. 2024
Throw a steak, brisket, or pork butt onto a grill, keep an eye on the temperature, and nurse a beer until it’s done.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024
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
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 1 May. 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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