nourish

verb

nour·​ish ˈnər-ish 

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 passion.

—L. 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 activities.

—Beverly Smith

nourisher noun

Synonyms of nourish

• promote
• cultivate
• encourage
• nurture
• foster

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

Elevate your bathing routine with this creamy shower gel that gently cleanses and nourishes your skin with a blend of acai, cupuacu butter and coconut oil. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 9 July 2026

This helps nourish and protect hair from external aggressors like UV damage and pollution, which can cause weakness and buildup. — Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 5 July 2026

This two-in-one shampoo and conditioner set is rich in rice protein, vitamin B, and vitamin C to strengthen and thicken the hair shaft, while nourishing the scalp. — Tessa Petak, InStyle, 4 July 2026

Move around your office and home—even playing with your babies or toddlers—while pumping milk to nourish them. — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 July 2026

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

Rhymes for nourish

• flourish

Kids Definition

nourish

verb

nour·​ish ˈnər-ish 

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

nour·​ish ˈnər-ish, ˈnə-rish 

: to furnish or sustain with nutriment : feed