care

noun

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\ ˈker

plural cares

Definition of care

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : suffering of mind : grief

2a : a disquieted state of mixed uncertainty, apprehension, and responsibility oppressed by sickness, grief, or care— William Wordsworth also : something that causes such a state : a particular worry, concern, etc. Relax and leave all your cares behind.

b : a cause for such anxiety

3a : painstaking or watchful attention his gentlemen conduct me with all care to some securest lodging— John Keats — see also take care

b : maintenance floor-care products — see also take care of

4 : regard coming from desire or esteem a care for the common good

5 : charge, supervision left the house in his care especially : responsibility for or attention to health, well-being, and safety under a doctor's care — see also health care, take care of

6 : a person or thing that is an object of attention, anxiety, or solicitude The flower garden was her special care.

care

verb

cared; caring

Definition of care (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : to feel trouble or anxiety cared for his safety

b : to feel interest or concern care about freedom

2 : to give care care for the sick

3a : to have a liking, fondness, or taste don't care for your attitude

b : to have an inclination would you care for some pie

transitive verb

1 : to be concerned about or to the extent of don't care what they say doesn't care a damn

2 : wish if you care to go

care less

: not to care —used positively and negatively with the same meaning I could care less what happensI couldn't care less what happens

Other Words from care Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing care Learn More About care

Choose the Right Synonym for care

Noun

care, concern, solicitude, anxiety, worry mean a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this. care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension. a face worn by years of care concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection. crimes caused concern in the neighborhood solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another. acted with typical maternal solicitude anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure. plagued by anxiety and self-doubt worry suggests fretting over matters that may or may not be real cause for anxiety. financial worries

Examples of care in a Sentence

Noun She used care in selecting a doctor for her son. The children have inadequate medical care and little formal education. We need to provide poor people with better dental care. She wrote a book about car care. With proper care, the machine should last a decade or more. She is an expert on skin care. She knows a lot about the care and feeding of horses. She looks as if all the cares of the world are on her shoulders. Verb He doesn't care if he gets fired. I care what happens to her. On Valentine's Day, send her flowers to show that you care. I didn't know you cared. I wouldn't care to be in your shoes right now. I'm going for a walk. Would you care to join me? He'll show the photos to anyone who cares to see them. More factors influenced her decision than she cares to admit. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Kids will get a lesson in sustainability and being good stewards to the environment with this set, which takes places in a jungle animal refuge where characters can take care of tapirs and other creatures. — Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, 24 Oct. 2022 Oregon State’s offense wasn’t overwhelming, but good enough to take care of the hapless Buffaloes. — oregonlive, 22 Oct. 2022 The rise of the EdTech industry (a 35.8 billion dollar industry in 2020, just in the U.S.), and new technologies like digital assistants already fulfill functions traditionally served by the adults who take care of children. — Susan Linn, Time, 21 Oct. 2022 Take care of the water everywhere, not just in one little section of town or one little section of the state. — Denise Powell, ELLE, 21 Oct. 2022 The offense should have momentum coming off its best performance of the season, and the Bengals should take care of business. — Jason Williams, The Enquirer, 20 Oct. 2022 The powerful vacuum is equipped with strong suction power to easily take care of dust, crumbs, and debris. — Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 19 Oct. 2022 To fix it, water more frequently—but take care to avoid overwatering, which can cause leaves to fall off (and root rot). — Taysha Murtaugh, Country Living, 18 Oct. 2022 American mechanics also take care of the specialized equipment while embedding with UAE military units. — Nate Jones, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The identical twins Isabella and Hà were born in Vietnam in 1998, and their mother struggled to care for them. — Erika Hayasaki, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2022 Without an influx of new talent replacing the aging workforce, countries will be left with low economic output, elderly populations, and no youth to care for them. — Parag Khanna, Time, 24 Oct. 2022 To care for those patients, Wellstar instead is investing $5 million in a primary care clinic next door, Southside Medical Center, according to Southside’s CEO. — Ariel Hart, ajc, 24 Oct. 2022 While Laenor doesn't seem to care that Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey aren't his biological sons, other members of House Velaryon certainly did, leading to tension between Rhaenyra and what should have been her strongest and most powerful allies. — Lauren Morgan, EW.com, 23 Oct. 2022 An unusual plant that might be trickier to care for might be best left to an expert gardener. — Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2022 This passion could easily spread to those people, leading them to care enough to help out. — Chicago Tribune, 21 Oct. 2022 The demands of the modern music business added challenges for mothers like herself, who have to care for their children while touring is paramount. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2022 Island inspecting our facility to care for asylum seekers. — Theara Coleman, The Week, 19 Oct. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'care.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for care

Noun

Middle English, "sorrow, distress, concern," going back to Old English cearu, caru, going back to Germanic *karō (whence also Old Saxon kara "sorrow, worry," Old High German chara, Old Norse kǫr "sickbed," Gothic kara "concern") perhaps going back to an Indo-European base *ǵeh₂r-, *ǵh₂r- "make a sound, cry," whence Old Irish ad-gair "(s/he) accuses, sues," Middle Irish gáir "shout, cry," Welsh gawr, Greek gêrys "voice, speech," Middle Persian zryg, zryq "sorrow, suffering," Ossetic (Iron dialect) zæl- "make a sound," zar- "sing"

Note: The original meaning of the Indo-European verb base was perhaps "bewail the deceased," which might account for the divergent meanings "sorrow, care" and "make a sound, cry"; though given that the former meaning is only attested in Iranian and Germanic (in which the putative sense "make a sound," if it ever existed, has left no trace), it may be more likely that two separate Indo-European bases, one perhaps sound-symbolic, have partially merged. Note that the Indo-European reconstruction *ǵeh₂r-, *ǵh₂r- is based solely on presumed canonical root structure, as the only attested vocalisms for the base are *gar- and *gār-. Latin garrīre "to chatter, jabber," with geminate r, may be an unrelated onomatopoeic formation.

Verb

Middle English caren "to grieve, be anxious, be solicitous," going back to Old English cearian, carian, going back to Germanic *karōjan- (whence Old Saxon karon "to lament," Old High German karōn, Gothic karon "to be concerned"), derivative of *karō "sorrow, worry" — more at care entry 1

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Last Updated

27 Oct 2022

Cite this Entry

“Care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/care. Accessed 30 Oct. 2022.

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More Definitions for care

care

noun

\ ˈke(ə)r

, ˈka(ə)r \

Kids Definition of care

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a heavy sense of responsibility

2 : serious attention take care in crossing streets

3 : protection sense 1, supervision under a doctor's care

4 : an object of one's care

care

verb

cared; caring

Kids Definition of care (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to feel interest or concern we care what happens

2 : to give care care for the sick

3 : to have a liking or a desire would you care for some pie?

care

noun

\ ˈka(ə)r, ˈke(ə)r

Medical Definition of care

: responsibility for or attention to health, well-being, and safety — see acute care, chronic care, health care, intensive care entry 1, primary care, secondary care, tertiary care

care

noun

Legal Definition of care

1 : watchful or protective attention, caution, concern, prudence, or regard usually towards an action or situation especially : due care a person has a duty to use care in dealing with others, and failure to do so is negligence — R. I. Mehr — see also due care, negligence, standard of care

Note: Statute, case law, and custom often impose a duty of care. The degree or standard of care owed varies depending on the circumstances. For example, a landlord has to exercise greater care in relation to a tenant than to a trespasser.

2a : personal supervision or responsibility : charge

b : maintenance