nourish
gb/nˈɚɪʃ/ us/nˈɚɪʃ/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
feed and keep alive
To give someone or something enough good food to grow and be healthy.
Usage pattern:
nourish [someone/something] (with [food/substance])
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse nourish with nurture: nourish focuses on food/nutrients; nurture is broader care and support.
Synonyms
feed (More general and more common in everyday speech.)
|
sustain (Emphasizes keeping alive over time, often in formal contexts.)
|
provide nourishment (More formal and explicit about nutrition.)
Antonyms
starve (To deprive of food so health worsens.)
|
deprive (To keep someone from getting needed food or nutrients.)
Collocations
nourish a baby
|nourish children
|nourish a plant
|nourish the body
|nourish the sick
|nourish someone with breast milk
|nourish someone with healthy food
|nourish oneself
|properly nourished
|well nourished
Themes
food
|health
|parenting
|nature
Examples
- The hospital meal plan is designed to nourish patients as they recover.
- Breast milk helps nourish a newborn in the first months of life.
- Compost nourishes the plants by adding nutrients to the soil.
Learner examples
- Healthy meals nourish your body.
- This food will nourish the baby.
Verb
B2
action
2
support growth of something
To help something grow stronger by giving it time, attention, or support.
Usage pattern:
nourish [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use nourish for any kind of help; it most naturally suggests steady support over time (like feeding).
Synonyms
foster (Common in education/work; emphasizes encouraging growth.)
|
cultivate (Often used for skills, habits, and relationships; slightly formal.)
|
encourage (More general and direct; not as metaphorical.)
Antonyms
stifle (To prevent something from developing.)
|
undermine (To weaken confidence, trust, or progress.)
Collocations
nourish creativity
|nourish curiosity
|nourish a relationship
|nourish trust
|nourish talent
|nourish an interest
|nourish confidence
|nourish an idea
|nourish a culture of learning
|nourish ambition
Themes
education
|work
|relationships
|emotions
Examples
- The manager tried to nourish a culture of openness on the team.
- Reading widely can nourish your curiosity and imagination.
- They made time each week to nourish their friendship.
Learner examples
- Good teachers nourish students’ confidence.
- We should nourish trust in our relationship.
Verb
B2
action
3
keep something in good condition
To make something healthier by giving it what it needs (like moisture or nutrients).
Usage pattern:
nourish [something]
Common mistake:
In skincare, learners may overuse nourish where moisturize is more specific; nourish is broader and often marketing language.
Synonyms
moisturize (More specific to adding moisture to skin.)
|
condition (Common for hair/skin; focuses on improving texture and health.)
|
enrich (Common for soil; focuses on adding nutrients.)
Antonyms
dry out (To remove moisture so it becomes less healthy.)
|
deplete (To use up nutrients (especially in soil).)
Collocations
nourish the skin
|nourish dry skin
|nourishing cream
|nourishing lotion
|nourish your hair
|nourishing shampoo
|nourish the scalp
|nourish the soil
|nourishing ingredients
|deeply nourishing
Themes
health
|beauty
|nature
|daily_life
Examples
- This oil is meant to nourish dry skin during winter.
- After years of heavy farming, they planted cover crops to nourish the soil.
- She uses a conditioner to nourish and strengthen her hair.
Learner examples
- This cream can nourish your skin.
- Compost helps nourish the soil.
Verb
B2
action
4
give mental or spiritual strength
To make someone feel happier, stronger, or more fulfilled inside.
Usage pattern:
nourish [someone] | nourish [something] (e.g., the mind, the spirit)
Common mistake:
Learners may treat nourish as only about food; it is also common in a metaphorical sense for the mind and feelings.
Synonyms
enrich (Emphasizes making life or the mind richer and more interesting.)
|
restore (Emphasizes feeling renewed after tiredness or stress.)
|
uplift (Emphasizes improving mood and spirit.)
Antonyms
drain (To take away energy or joy.)
|
demoralize (To reduce confidence and spirit.)
Collocations
nourish the mind
|nourish the soul
|nourish the spirit
|nourish your inner life
|nourish a sense of purpose
|nourish hope
|nourish resilience
|nourish well-being
|nourish yourself emotionally
|nourish a love of music
Themes
emotions
|culture
|well_being
|education
Examples
- Spending time in nature always nourishes her spirit.
- Good conversation can nourish the mind as much as any book.
- Volunteering nourished his sense of purpose.
Learner examples
- Music nourishes my soul.
- Walking outside nourishes my mind.
Grammar
Dictionary form
nourish
IPA
GB/nˈɚɪʃ/
US/nˈɚɪʃ/
Syllables & stress
nour - ish (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (nour)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: nourish
- 3rd Person Singular: nourishes
- Present Participle: nourishing
- Past: nourished
Word family
Forms
nourishes
verb
nourishing
verb
nourished
verb
Core family
nourishment
noun B2
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
malnourished
adjective
malnutrition
noun B2
Advanced or less common
nutritive
adjective
Expressions
nourish (someone) back to health
1/nˈɚɪʃ sˈʌmwˌʌn bˈæk tə hˈɛlθ/
fixed phrase
help someone recover with food
To help someone get well again by giving them nutritious food.
Examples
- Her family nourished her back to health after the operation.
- It took weeks to nourish the rescued dog back to health.
- The clinic focuses on nourishing malnourished children back to health.
nourish a grudge
1/nˈɚɪʃ ə ɡɹˈʌd͡ʒ/
idiom
keep resentment alive
To keep feeling angry about the past for a long time.
Examples
- He still nourishes a grudge against his former boss.
- Try not to nourish a grudge over one careless comment.
- Years later, she was surprised to learn he had been nourishing a grudge.