nourish

UK: /ˈnʌrɪʃ/ US: /ˈnɜrɪʃ, ˈnʌr-/ ,(nûr′ish, nur′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

nour•ish /ˈnɜrɪʃ, ˈnʌr-/   v. [~ + object]

1. to supply with what is necessary for life, health, and growth:
   This food will nourish the sick infants.
2. to keep alive;
   cause to grow:
   still nourished the hope of peace.
3. to strengthen;
   promote;
   foster:
   to nourish talent.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

nour•ish  (nûr′ish, nur′-), v.t. 

1. to sustain with food or nutriment;
   supply with what is necessary for life, health, and growth.
2. to cherish, foster, keep alive, etc.:
   He had long nourished the dream of living abroad.
3. to strengthen, build up, or promote:
   to nourish discontent among the workers; to nourish the arts in one's community.

• Latin nūtrīre to feed; see nurse, -ish²
• Old French noriss-, long stem of norir
• Middle English norisshe 1250–1300

nour′ish•a•ble, adj. 
nour′ish•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See nurse. 
• 3. encourage, help, aid, back, advance.

Antonyms

• 3. discourage.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nourish / ˈnʌrɪʃ/ verb (transitive)

1. to provide with the materials necessary for life and growth
2. to support or encourage (an idea, feeling, etc); foster: to nourish resentment

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French norir, from Latin nūtrīre to feed, care for

ˈnourisher noun

ˈnourishing adjective