cultivate
To develop or nurture something over time through effort and attention.
Examples
In a meeting
“We need to cultivate stronger relationships with our key accounts.”
Over coffee
“She's been cultivating a really impressive garden this summer.”
Why this word
develop
Cultivate implies careful, deliberate nurturing over time like growing plants, while develop is broader and doesn't convey the same patient care
grow
Cultivate emphasizes intentional effort and refinement in development, while grow can be passive or natural
foster
Cultivate suggests active tending and improvement toward a desired outcome, while foster means encouraging without the same implication of refinement
Usage tip
Implies patience and ongoing effort, like growing a plant. Use for relationships, skills, habits, and reputations.
Etymology
Latin cultivare — cultus (tended, cultivated), from colere (to till, tend, care for)
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Related words
mutual
Shared by two or more parties; experienced or done by each toward the other.
expand
To make something larger, more extensive, or more detailed
traction
The extent to which an idea or product gains acceptance
proliferate
To increase rapidly in number; multiply
plateau
Reach a stable level after growth, with no further increase
reciprocate
To respond to an action by doing something similar in return