mothering

IPA/ˈmʌðərɪŋ/
KK[ˈmʌðərɪŋ]IPA/ˈmʌðərɪŋ/

mothering — noun

1. care and close attention given to a child or another person, especially with the

1.nounC1
Definition

care and close attention given to a child or another person, especially with the warmth and watchfulness often linked with a mother

Example

After the fever started, Eri's mothering kept the whole house calm.

noun: quality of care given

Good mothering helps shy children feel safe in new places.

Common collocations
  • good mothering
  • constant mothering
  • patient mothering
Synonyms
  • nurturing

    focuses on helping someone grow, not only on protective care

  • care

    broader and less specifically linked to a mother's role

  • parenting

    covers the full job of raising a child, not just the caring aspect

Antonyms
  • neglect

    means failing to give the needed care or attention

Grammar Patterns

good mothering

constant mothering

mothering of young children

Usage Note

Usually uncountable. It often appears when people judge the quality or amount of care given to children or young animals.

Common Mistakes

She gave him many motherings.
She gave him a lot of mothering.
This noun is usually uncountable when talking about care.

mothering — adjective

mothering — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/3

All three words involve giving care. Mothering specifically suggests care in a maternal style and often hints that the attention is more than needed. Nurture is broader and can be fully positive, while coddle is more clearly critical and suggests making someone too dependent.

mothering ↗nurture ↗coddle ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • good mothering
  • stop mothering me
  • a mothering role

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Built from mother and the suffix -ing. The noun names the act or quality of caring in a mother-like way, while the adjective and verb uses keep the same idea of warm, sometimes overcareful attention.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Adjective