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

The same habits that nourish your digestive system also support the microbes living in your mouth, and small daily shifts can tilt both microbiomes at once. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026

The addition of hydrating ingredients like magnesium PCA and zinc PCA help nourish an irritated skin barrier. — Glamour, 2 Oct. 2026

The multitasking tint keeps dry lips nourished (and never sticky) and leaves a fresh, dewy flush when tapped onto cheeks. — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 1 Oct. 2026

On admission, the patient usually arrives well-groomed, smelling nice, well-nourished, and — above all — deeply loved by the caregiver who has devoted a large chunk of their life to their wellbeing. — Alicja Turczyk, The Dial, 29 Sep. 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