noun
Common
nursing
NUR-sihng
Nursing (noun) means the profession or practice of caring for the sick, injured, or elderly. Example: “Nursing is hard work, but many people find it deeply rewarding.”
noun
1
The profession or practice of caring for the sick, injured, or elderly.
"Nursing is hard work, but many people find it deeply rewarding."
"He is studying nursing at university and hopes to work on a children's ward."
"She decided to go into nursing after volunteering at the hospital."
verb
1
Present participle of nurse: caring for someone, or breastfeeding.
"She is nursing her injured brother back to health at home."
"The young mother was nursing her baby in a quiet corner of the cafe."
"He spent the week nursing a bad cold."
"The mother sat there nursing her baby."
How to use nursing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe job of caring for sick or injured people, or the ongoing act of caring for someone.
Common pairings
nursing home
nursing degree
go into nursing
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Word forms
- Plural
- nursings
- Comparative
- more nursing
- Superlative
- most nursing
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_____ is hard work, but many people find it deeply rewarding.
Related words
Rhymes for nursing
See all rhymes for nursing →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.
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