take care

phrase

1

: to be careful or watchful : to exercise caution or prudence

Because fish is more delicate than beef, take care when pounding it thin.

—Sam Gugino

Patients also should take care in storing their drugs because heat exposure could affect their efficacy, [Aaron] Bernstein says.

—Marlene Cimons

—often used informally to express good wishes when parting, at the end of a message, etc.

I'll see you next week. Take care!

2

: to give particular attention to doing or not doing something

When he had finished writing, Cluny pushed the parchment under his pillow, taking care to leave just a small corner of it jutting out.

—Brian Jacques

In this land of ritual, Westerners should take care to inform themselves of protocol.

—Jeff Morgan

Open oysters carefully just before they are required, taking care not to spill the liquor in their deep shells.

—Elizabeth Craig

see also take care of

Examples of take care in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The only suspense in the district is whether Springtown (4-5, 3-3) can take care of Irving Ranchview (4-5, 2-4) for the final playoff berth. — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Nov. 2026

Wong’s lawyer Derek Chan had urged the court to impose a sentence that would give his client some hope, adding that Wong wishes to take care of his parents after his release. — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

Siaja also knows this woman is her elder, and elders should be taken care of. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2026

The incumbent previously told CBS News Baltimore that his goal for a second term is to take care of unfinished business. — Cbs Baltimore, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for take care

• aftercare
• anywhere
• billionaire
• chinaware
• debonair
• dinnerware
• disrepair
• doctrinaire
• earthenware
• everywhere
• frigidaire
• kitchenware