concern

¹con·cern

verb \kən-ˈsərn\

Definition of CONCERN

transitive verb

1

a : to relate to : be about <the novel concerns three soldiers> b : to bear on

2

: to have an influence on : involve; also : to be the business or affair of <the problem concerns us all>

3

: to be a care, trouble, or distress to <her ill health concerns me>

4

: engage, occupy <he concerns himself with trivia>

intransitive verb

obsolete : to be of importance : matter

Examples of CONCERN

1. The novel concerns three soldiers.
2. This study concerns the noise levels in cities.
3. This conversation doesn't concern you.
4. Our mother's illness concerns us.

Origin of CONCERN

Middle English, from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French concerner, from Medieval Latin concernere, from Late Latin, to sift together, mingle, from Latin com- + cernere to sift — more at certain

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to CONCERN

Synonyms: cover, deal (with), pertain (to), treat (of), have to do with

Antonyms: calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

Related Words: appertain (to), bear (on or upon), refer (to), relate (to); advert (to), allude (to), cite, glance (upon), instance, mention, name, note, notice, quote, specify, touch (upon); offer, present; contain, embrace, encompass, entail, include, incorporate

Near Antonyms: exclude, omit; disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, slur (over); brush (aside or off), reject, shrug off

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with CONCERN

adjourn, astern, attorn, casern, discern, downturn, epergne, eterne, extern, heartburn, Hepburn, intern, in turn, inurn, kick turn, lucerne, Lucerne, nocturn, nocturne, outturn, return, sauternes, secern, sojourn, star turn, stem turn, step turn, sunburn, unlearn, upturn, U-turn, windburn