nursing
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for nursing, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The profession or practice of caring for the sick, injured, or elderly.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use nursing
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Frequently asked questions
What does “nursing” mean?
The word “nursing” means the profession or practice of caring for the sick, injured, or elderly. In plain terms, the job of caring for sick or injured people, or the ongoing act of caring for someone.
How do you pronounce “nursing”?
“Nursing” is pronounced NUR-sihng (/ˈnɝsɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “nursing” in a sentence?
Here is “nursing” used in a sentence: “She decided to go into nursing after volunteering at the hospital.”
What part of speech is “nursing”?
Depending on how it is used, “nursing” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “nursing” a common word?
“Nursing” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “nursing” have?
“Nursing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the profession or practice of caring for the sick, injured, or elderly.
What is the difference between nursing and caregiving?
Nursing refers specifically to the profession or practice of caring for the sick, injured, or elderly, usually by trained staff. Caregiving is a broader term that covers any support given to someone who needs help, including family members without medical training.
When does 'nursing' mean breastfeeding rather than looking after the sick?
As the present participle of the verb 'nurse', nursing can mean feeding a baby at the breast. Context makes the meaning clear: a mother nursing her infant is breastfeeding, while a nurse nursing a patient is providing care for illness or injury.
Is 'nursing' the same as 'nurturing'?
They overlap but are not identical. Nursing centres on caring for someone who is sick, injured, or dependent, while nurturing means encouraging growth or development over time. You can nurture a child's talent, but you nurse a patient back to health.