The words "support", "nurture", and "foster" have related yet distinct meanings and share some similarities as synonyms.
Support:
- Meaning: It implies providing assistance, backing, or holding up. It can be in the form of giving help, resources, or moral encouragement. For example, "The community supported the local charity by donating money and volunteering." It can also refer to validating an idea or a person. For instance, "The research findings support the theory proposed by the scientist."
- Similarity to "nurture" and "foster": Like the other two words, it is about helping something or someone. However, "support" is a more general term that can cover a wide range of actions from simple aid to more complex forms of assistance. It doesn't necessarily imply a long-term or developmental focus like "nurture" and "foster" often do. For example, you can support a one-time event or a short-term project.
Nurture:
- Meaning: It emphasizes the care and attention given to the growth and development of something or someone. It involves providing the necessary conditions, love, and nourishment for something to thrive and reach its potential. For example, "Parents nurture their children by providing a loving home, good education, and emotional support." It can also be used in a non-human context, such as "The gardener nurtures the plants with proper watering and fertilizing."
- Similarity to "support" and "foster": It has an element of helping and promoting growth like "foster". And it is a form of support but with a more specific connotation of tending to the development over a period. It is more about the continuous and tender care aspect compared to the broader "support". In relation to "foster", "nurture" might focus more on the internal and emotional aspects of development. For example, a teacher can nurture a student's creativity and self-esteem.
Foster:
- Meaning: It means to encourage or promote the development or growth of something. It often implies taking an active role in bringing about a particular outcome or state. For example, "The school aims to foster a love for learning among its students." It can also refer to providing a home and care for a child who is not one's own, as in "The couple decided to foster an orphan."
- Similarity to "support" and "nurture": It is about helping something progress and develop, similar to "support" in a way that it gives a push or an impetus. And like "nurture", it is concerned with growth. But "foster" might have a more active and intentional sense of making something happen. For instance, a government program might foster economic growth in a particular region by implementing specific policies. It is less about the day-to-day care as in "nurture" and more about creating an environment or taking steps to encourage a certain result.