parent 1 of 2

noun

Definition of parentnext
as in mother
a person who brings forth and raises a child The couple recently became parents for the first time. She grew up in a single parent household.

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parent

2 of 2

verb

as in to raise
to bring forth and raise to maturity through care and education They expertly parent their second child using all the lessons learned from raising their first.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of parent
Noun
The country singer also asked fans to donate to the Young Center for Immigrant Rights, which helps children whose parents have faced deportations, during the opening night of her tour in Chicago back in August. — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 Hospital off-campus clinic sites grew from about 7,000 in 2013 to more than 34,000 in 2023, often in neighborhoods that are wealthier and better-insured than that of the parent hospital. — Casey B. Mulligan, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
When Duncan asked what caused his stress, Nacua mentioned a lifestyle change, under the NFL spotlight and as a new father co-parenting his 10-month-old son. — Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Reminiscent of the discussions around Michael Jackson’s upbringing, this Lanterns episode has sparked specific conversations about parenting Black boys and children into greatness, and what actions constitute abusive or unhealthy parenting. — Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for parent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parent
  1. mother
  2. raise
  3. mom
  4. nurture
  5. foster
Noun
  • Livia’s sister-in-law invokes the poem when Livia learns, to her surprise, that her manipulative, abusive mother had been a frustrated musician.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, was founded in 1980 by a mother whose 13-year-old daughter was killed by an intoxicated driver.
    — Kent Sepkowitz, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of mother
Verb
  • Key justices appeared wary about the potential sweep of litigation, but torn over the complex questions of federal and state law raised by the case.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Boat trips to Capri and Positano are on the doorstep, as are hair-raising Vespa tours on hairpin roads and private visits to Pompei and Herculaneum.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of raise
Noun
  • Willa’s look contrasted her mom’s with youthful exuberance defined by pops of color.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Let this serve as your reminder that a sweet-smelling scented candle makes a lovely present for just about any favorite coworker, significant other, your votive-loving mom, or yourself.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of mom
Verb
  • For four months, the Napa grower spent four to five hours a day tending four giant pumpkin plants, watching their vines, nurturing their fruit and waiting to see just how big one of them might get.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Bellen's parents focused more on nurturing their children's gifts and interests like entrepreneurship and education and supporting their endeavors.
    — Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of nurture
Verb
  • Modern politics is not built to foster long-term thinking about such challenges, said longtime political strategist Darry Sragow.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Central bankers adjust the target range on the fed funds rate for two reasons — their dual mandate of maximizing employment and fostering stable prices.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of foster

Browse Nearby Words

pared
parent
parentage
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Cite this Entry

“Parent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parent. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on parent

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about parent

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