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
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2025
The court voted 6-3 in favor of parents seeking to opt their children out.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 27 June 2025
Chuka Emezue, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025
Early on, there were less than subtle signs that my father was parenting with an eye on the clock.
—Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for parent
Noun
This two-pack of portable fans is a fan-favorite among parents, and many people with children in the comments mention wrapping the fans’ octopus-like legs onto their strollers.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2025
The court voted 6-3 in favor of parents seeking to opt their children out.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 27 June 2025
Verb
This underscores the importance of parenting education and fatherhood programs.
—Chuka Emezue, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025
Early on, there were less than subtle signs that my father was parenting with an eye on the clock.
—Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for parent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parent
Noun
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The 69-year-old hails from an ethnically mixed family – his father is Azeri and his mother is Kurdish.—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN,
6 July 2024
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And if your mother doesn't feel comfortable setting her own boundary, offer to be her excuse.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Washington Post,
6 July 2024
Verb
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Business leaders must raise their voices—not just for equity, but for the sustainability and competitiveness of their own industries.—
Leadership Brainery,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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The statistics seem to suggest that some students and workers are growing dependent on free AI tools—a usage pattern that might become lucrative if AI companies were to begin restricting access or raising prices.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
1 July 2025
Noun
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Here's the state of the living characters at the end of the show… What happened with Cady and her mom Penny?—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
25 June 2025
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Without hesitation, the new mom springs into action, trotting through the house and into a gated room.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Align with nurturing, empathetic individuals who will be there for you when Venus enters Cancer on July 30.—
Liz Simmons,
StyleCaster,
24 June 2025
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Last month, volunteers on Sanibel Island planted 500 red mangrove seedlings that had been nurtured by local residents over months, to help the community recover from recent storms.—
Christina Kelso,
New York Times,
24 June 2025
Verb
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By leveraging technology to provide transparency in account activities and educate clients on their financial behaviors, institutions can foster trust and engagement, ensuring customers feel informed and empowered in their financial decisions.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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How Do Their Focuses Differ? Both Pilates and yoga focus on connecting the mind and body as one, fostering better overall physical and mental health: Yoga also incorporates a spiritual component into the practice.—
Angelica Bottaro,
Verywell Health,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Parent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parent. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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