upbringing
gb/ˈʌpbɹˌɪŋɪŋ/ us/ˈʌpbɹˌɪŋɪŋ/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
abstract
1
how a child was raised
how someone’s parents (or carers) raised them when they were a child
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s upbringing; a/an [adjective] upbringing
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes treat it only as uncountable; in modern English it is often countable (e.g., “a strict upbringing”).
Synonyms
childhood (More general; refers to the time period, not specifically how you were raised.)
|
background (Broader; can include class, culture, and life history beyond parenting.)
|
rearing (More formal and focused on the act of raising a child.)
Antonyms
neglect (The failure to care for a child properly; the opposite of being well raised.)
Collocations
a strict upbringing
|a religious upbringing
|a sheltered upbringing
|a middle-class upbringing
|a difficult upbringing
|a privileged upbringing
|a humble upbringing
|a stable upbringing
|a rural upbringing
|a troubled upbringing
Themes
family
|childhood
|education
|society
|daily_life
Examples
- Her strict upbringing meant there were lots of rules at home.
- He had a rural upbringing and still feels most comfortable in the countryside.
- Their different upbringings shaped how they thought about money and work.
Learner examples
- My upbringing was happy and safe.
- She had a religious upbringing.
Noun
C1
process
2
the act of raising children
the process of raising and caring for children
Usage pattern:
be responsible for [someone]'s upbringing; play a role in [someone]'s upbringing
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this noun with the verb phrase “bring up” (e.g., “They upbringing the child” is incorrect).
Synonyms
raising (More common and less formal; often used in phrases like “raising children.”)
|
child-rearing (Slightly more formal and often used in parenting contexts.)
Antonyms
abandonment (Leaving a child without care; the opposite of actively raising them.)
Collocations
child upbringing
|the upbringing of children
|be responsible for a child's upbringing
|support a child's upbringing
|take part in a child's upbringing
|provide an upbringing
|early upbringing
|proper upbringing
Themes
family
|childhood
|parenting
|education
Examples
- Both parents share responsibility for the children’s upbringing.
- The school aims to work with families in the upbringing of young people.
- Grandparents often play an important role in a child’s upbringing.
Learner examples
- Parents are important in a child’s upbringing.
Grammar
Dictionary form
upbringing
IPA
GB/ˈʌpbɹˌɪŋɪŋ/
US/ˈʌpbɹˌɪŋɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
up - bring - ing (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (up)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: upbringing
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.