parenting

noun

par·​ent·​ing ˈper-ən-tiŋ 

1

: the raising of a child by its parents

2

: the act or process of becoming a parent

3

: the taking care of someone in the manner of a parent

Synonyms

• parenthood

Examples of parenting in a Sentence

They share the responsibilities of parenting.

as the big day approaches, the expectant couple are starting to get worried about their fitness for parenting

Recent Examples on the Web

In the new book, Second Life: Having A Child In The Digital Age, Hess writes about how technology shapes every aspect of parenting — from our online identities to the pressures of sharing our lives in real-time. —Tonya Mosley, NPR, 8 May 2025

View on Reddit While differences in parenting can cause stress, frequent arguments do not always indicate a doomed relationship. —Darlin Tillery, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025

Parker, who is also a leadership and life coach, shares these moments online not just for laughs, but to model emotional intelligence in parenting. —Ashley Vega, People.com, 7 May 2025

Thousands of adults online are resonating with alternate endings to classic children’s books that may not have aged well in light of modern-day gentle parenting. —Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 6 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing parenting

• attachment parenting
• foster parenting

Kids Definition

parenting

noun

par·​ent·​ing ˈpar-ənt-iŋ 

ˈper-

: the raising of a child by its parents

Medical Definition

parenting

noun

par·​ent·​ing ˈpar-ənt-iŋ, ˈper- 

: the raising of a child by its parents