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 WebThe Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024
Cassy Leach, a nurse, leads a volunteer group providing food, medical care and other basic goods to the town’s hundreds of homeless people.
—Claire Rush, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
Teachers, tourists, nurses, and moms alike are singing this bag’s praises on Amazon.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2024
The following year, a nurse at the facility pleaded guilty to tampering with the fentanyl meant for the women’s procedures, having replaced the opioid with saline.
—Dr. Sharon Malone, TIME, 9 Apr. 2024
She was surrounded by her family and dear friends, as well as her wonderful caretakers and nurses.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
When Celestine was born, a cavalier nurse spelled her last name incorrectly on her birth certificate.
—Brooklyn White, Essence, 9 Apr. 2024
Virtual nursing is a new health systems model that uses experienced nurses in remote roles to help support bedside nurses with patient care.
—Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 8 Apr. 2024
After the anticipated pinch, the nurse or doctor likely told us something about possible vaccine side effects.
—TIME, 4 Apr. 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
Hanna May Rhoden, 19, the daughter of Chris and Dana Rhoden who was working as a nurse's aide and had two young daughters.
—The Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024
Cassy Leach, a nurse, leads a volunteer group providing food, medical care and other basic goods to the town’s hundreds of homeless people.
—Claire Rush, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
Teachers, tourists, nurses, and moms alike are singing this bag’s praises on Amazon.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2024
The following year, a nurse at the facility pleaded guilty to tampering with the fentanyl meant for the women’s procedures, having replaced the opioid with saline.
—Dr. Sharon Malone, TIME, 9 Apr. 2024
She was surrounded by her family and dear friends, as well as her wonderful caretakers and nurses.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
When Celestine was born, a cavalier nurse spelled her last name incorrectly on her birth certificate.
—Brooklyn White, Essence, 9 Apr. 2024
Virtual nursing is a new health systems model that uses experienced nurses in remote roles to help support bedside nurses with patient care.
—Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 8 Apr. 2024
After the anticipated pinch, the nurse or doctor likely told us something about possible vaccine side effects.
—TIME, 4 Apr. 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 19 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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