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

This fragrance-free formula pairs soothing feverfew (a herb that looks like a daisy) with nourishing oat to gently wash away dirt and buildup while helping protect the skin barrier. —Lily Wohlner, Allure, 22 Dec. 2025

Each tube is enriched with nourishing shea butter, plus dreamy botanical oils to soothe and protect dry winter hands; while the almond and lavender scents add a luxuriously cozy touch. —Jennifer Chan, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025

Today, her aromatherapy oils, which include both nourishing body oils as well as perfume oils, have gone viral online and come in dozens of scent profiles. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025

The blend of nourishing oils in this one keeps lips hydrated, locking in moisture for hours of comfortable wear. —Shalwah Evans, Glamour, 15 Dec. 2025

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