upbringing

American

[uhp-bring-ing] / ˈʌpˌbrɪŋ ɪŋ /

noun

the care and training of young children or a particular type of such care and training.

His religious upbringing fitted him to be a missionary.

upbringing British

/ ˈʌpˌbrɪŋɪŋ /

noun

Also called: bringing-up. the education of a person during his formative years

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of upbringing

First recorded in 1475–85; gerund of upbring “to rear children” (obsolete since the 16th century)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The 75-year-old actor reflected on his upbringing, early career, and decades-long relationship with Hawn, 80, in a wide-ranging interview with the Wall Street Journal.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

Mentoring played a massive part in my upbringing, and sports teachers and coaches were always held in great esteem.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Thoughtful and easygoing offstage, Peaches’ seemingly rebellious onstage shenanigans are hardly a reaction to her upbringing.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

He grew up in Montevideo and credits his tough upbringing to shaping the player he is today.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

The fact he’d navigated his unusual upbringing so successfully seemed only to reinforce the idea that he was ready to take on more.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023