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

Like your faucet, Odame says vinegar is great in this room for removing water stains, mineral deposits, soap scum, and everyday buildup more effectively than many gentle cleaners to leave the room looking fresh and cared for with minimal effort. —Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 4 Jan. 2026

When Orville’s wife died in 1999, Lisa and her children moved in with Orville to care for him. —Virginia Hammerle, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026

As for getting her back to properly caring for the puppies, that might be difficult. —Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026

With little information about how to raise red octopuses, Tracewell began researching how to care for them. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for care for

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