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

French Bulldog is the most expensive to care for at $40,720, largely due to insurance and vet costs. —Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 9 Feb. 2026

After caring for Gabriel for two and a half months, Weaver felt as though she’d once again been used and discarded—this time by the state. —Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026

Dillon added that she's been caring for Bojanowski after he was involved in a serious car crash that left him with a brain injury. —Julia Avant, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026

One night in December, my shift started with only three nurses caring for 75 patients in one area. —Diana Torres, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026

Rhymes for care for

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