Definition

Noun The process of raising and educating a child, including providing for their physical, emotional, and social needs to help them become an accepted member of society. It encompasses the care, training, and instruction given by parents or guardians.

Examples

• The bringing up of children is a parent's most important responsibility.
• Her strict bringing up taught her the value of discipline.
• They credited their success to their excellent bringing up.

Advanced Usage

• "Nature versus nurture": A common debate contrasting the influence of innate qualities ("nature") versus upbringing and environment ("nurture" or bringing up) on a person's development.
  • The study examines the effects of bringing up (nurture) versus genetics (nature) on personality.

Variants and Related Words

• Bring up (verb): To raise a child; to care for and educate during childhood.
  • It's challenging to bring up children in a big city.
• Upbringing (noun): A more common synonym for bringing up, referring to the way a child is raised.
  • He had a very religious upbringing.

Synonyms

• Rearing: The process of bringing up and educating children.
• Fostering: Promoting the growth and development of a child.
• Nurturing: Providing care and encouragement for growth and development.
• Raising: The act of bringing a child to maturity.

Related Phrasal Verbs (from the verb "bring up")

• Bring up (a topic): To mention or introduce a subject for discussion.
  • She didn't want to bring up the issue at the meeting.
• Bring up (to a place): To cause someone or something to move to a higher position or level.
  • Can you bring up the files from the basement?

Related Idioms

• "Brought up to believe": Taught from childhood to accept something as true.
  • I was brought up to believe that honesty is the best policy.
• "Brought up the hard way": Raised with strict discipline or through difficult circumstances.
  • He was brought up the hard way, which made him very resilient.

Noun

1. helping someone grow up to be an accepted member of the community
   • they debated whether nature or nurture was more important