as in mother
a person who brings forth and raises a child
The couple recently became parents for the first time. She grew up in a single parent household.
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as in to raise
to bring forth and raise to maturity through care and education
They expertly parent their second child using all the lessons learned from raising their first.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of parent
Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
The number of meteors in a shower can vary depending on the parent comet’s structure, orbit and location in space relative to Earth (in general, showers are stronger when the comet has recently passed Earth, leaving more fresh debris behind).
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 12 June 2026
Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Between work, caring for her 78-year-old mother − whose symptoms have worsened with age − and parenting two kids, Schlapman often feels the need to be in multiple places at once.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for parent
Noun
Something has gone badly wrong when childhood is being shaped by systems no child can understand, no parent can fully monitor, and no teacher can reasonably be expected to counter alone.
—Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
The number of meteors in a shower can vary depending on the parent comet’s structure, orbit and location in space relative to Earth (in general, showers are stronger when the comet has recently passed Earth, leaving more fresh debris behind).
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 12 June 2026
Verb
Belc is a thoroughly charming narrator of everything from finding meaning in the work of Deb Perelman and Ina Garten to parenting as a trans man to the maddening and joyful mundanity of running a household.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Between work, caring for her 78-year-old mother − whose symptoms have worsened with age − and parenting two kids, Schlapman often feels the need to be in multiple places at once.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for parent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parent
Noun
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Castle also met with Copeland's mother and grandmother, who attended the proceedings.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
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Mark and Jacob were with their mother and younger sibling in a crosswalk at Triunfo Canyon Road when witnesses said two cars sped toward them.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Half of the money raised will be donated to a local gun violence prevention group.—
Tammy Mutasa,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
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In 2016, Loomis voters approved Measure F, a quarter-cent sales tax projected to raise about $250,000 annually for general government services, including support for the Loomis Library.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The latter show features bona fide movie stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Elle Fanning, plus a plot — single mom starts an OnlyFans to make ends meet — that fits right in with the 21st-century trend of comedies that play like dramas.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
13 June 2026
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The Los Angeles mom of three was used to seasonal illnesses and 24-hour viruses.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
Verb
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The nurturing Moon enters your 6th House of Daily Routine, nudging you to set a clear calendar block that protects your focus.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
11 June 2026
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Sarabande is the charitable foundation founded by the late Lee Alexander McQueen to nurture creative talent across a variety of creative fields, including art, craft, design and technology.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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While not every nursing home fosters a neglectful or abusive environment, these conditions can thrive at facilities that are understaffed.—
Sponsored Content,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
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Proceeds from the tournament will directly support the Frontwave Foundation’s Summer Backpack Drive, which will provide school backpacks and essential supplies to foster children in the community.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Parent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parent. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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