care for

phrasal verb

cared for; caring for; cares for

1

: to do the things that are needed to help and protect (a person or animal) : look after (someone or something)

She cares for elderly patients.

Who is caring for your son while you are at work?

2

: to feel affection for (someone)

I got the feeling he never really cared for me.

3

somewhat formal : to like or enjoy (something)

—often used in negative statements

I don't care for jelly beans.

I don't care for your tone of voice.

4

somewhat formal : to want (something)

Would you care for some pie?

Examples of care for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The report also compared the cost of child care and housing, revealing that in most states, child care for two children costs as much as—or more than—housing. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025

Her father, Michael Riebe, who has worked in law enforcement, said Heather once volunteered to care for two young boys of a sheriff department detective who had lost her husband. —Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 8 Nov. 2025

Mothers and other females in the pods typically care for the calves for up to three years, per the zoo. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025

After fleeing, Wilson was not taken to medical care for another 30 minutes and died, prosecutors said. —Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 7 Nov. 2025

Rhymes for care for

• albacore
• alongshore
• antiwar
• anymore
• blastopore
• carnivore
• commodore
• dinosaur
• evermore
• furthermore
• guarantor
• herbivore