Definition

Verb: To teach a young child to control their bladder and bowel functions and to use a toilet or potty for elimination, as part of their early development.

Usage

This verb is used specifically in the context of child-rearing and developmental milestones. It describes the process undertaken by a parent or caregiver. It is a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (the child being trained).

Examples

• The parents decided to toilet-train their daughter over the summer.
• It can be challenging to toilet-train a toddler who is not yet ready.
• She successfully toilet-trained all three of her children before they were two and a half.

Advanced Usage

• The process or period can be referred to as "toilet training" (noun).
  • The toilet training phase lasted several weeks.
• The adjective "toilet-trained" describes a child who has learned this skill.
  • All children in this preschool class must be toilet-trained.

Variants and Related Words

• Potty-train (verb): A more informal, synonymous term for 'toilet-train'.
• Toilet training (noun): The process or period of teaching a child to use the toilet.
• Toilet-trained (adjective): Having acquired the skill of using the toilet.

Synonyms

• Potty-train

Antonyms

• There is no direct antonym, but the state before training could be described as being in diapers/nappies.

Verb

1. train (a small child) to use the toilet