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Glite Dictionary
to nurture friendships

to nurture friendships

3.9
Give time and care to keep close relationships with people you trust
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : cultivar amistades
  • She always makes an effort to nurture friendships by checking in with her friends regularly.

Because, you know, you take so much time to nurture these friendships and then suddenly you realise that it's not necessarily forever.

Examples

  • Because, you know, you take so much time to nurture these friendships and then suddenly you realise that it's not necessarily forever.

    Dr Sheen Gurrib

  • Nurturing friendships, not just a long-term relationship with a partner, seem to provide a major source of life satisfaction.

    Academic text (2001)

  • It's important to nurture friendships by spending time together and showing you care.

  • To maintain a strong support system, you should nurture friendships that bring positivity to your life.

Synonyms

to cultivate good relationships
vsto nurture friendships
3.5

To build and keep friendly, trusting connections with other people

focuses on close personal ties with a few people rather than many

Antonyms

to abandon
773 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

How Close

to nurture friendships
3.9

Surface Forms

nurture friendships infinitive
nurtured friendships past
nurtured friendships past participle
nurturing friendships present participle
nurtures friendships third person singular

Morphology

nurture + friendship

The meaning 'to actively develop and maintain close relationships with friends' is directly derivable from combining 'nurture' (to provide care, nourishment, or encouragement) with 'friendships' (relationships of mutual care). This is a straightforward verb + noun compositional pattern and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would understand the expression.

Etymology

Nurture friendships gives a garden picture: to nurture friendships is like watering plants, giving time and care so they grow and stay healthy. So, it means 'to actively develop and maintain close relationships'.