care

\ ˈker

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

b : a cause for such anxiety

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

b : maintenance floor-care products

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

5 : charge, supervision under a doctor's care

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 meaningI could care less what happensI couldn't care less what happens

Other Words from care Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about care

Keep scrolling for more

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.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun This is because they are faced with budget cuts and unrealistic expectations of providing patient care with half the staff. — cleveland.com, "Dear Annie: Overworked nurses need a break, and our understanding," 16 Sep. 2019 His online platform also features a hard-line immigration stance, including stripping undocumented immigrants of non-emergency medical care and access to public school. — The Washington Post, al, "Man Trump called ‘my African American’ says GOP’s ‘only concern is for whites’," 14 Sep. 2019 Freidberg said the 13-year-old student was neither a Springboard student nor in the program’s care. — Washington Post, "D.C. parents want school system to do more to prevent sexual misconduct," 13 Sep. 2019 The program provides hoof care to various zoo animals such as giraffes, bovines, equines and antelope to zoos nationwide. — Johnny Diaz, sun-sentinel.com, "'Mani-pedi’ for endangered zebra in Miami," 13 Sep. 2019 The facility will provide 24-hour care and treatment for residents. — Catherine Reagor, azcentral, "Squeezed Out: Arizona spending $15M to build affordable housing and shelters for homeless," 12 Sep. 2019 Asher maintained that medical and mental health care was a top priority, leading the facility to employ doctors, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists and social workers. — Nina Shapiro, The Seattle Times, "To dispel ‘bad information,’ ICE opens detention facility in Tacoma to first-of-its kind media tour," 11 Sep. 2019 The girls remain in state custody and now struggle with persistent fears, sadness for their older sister who also endured and remembered the abuse, plus anger at their mother for leaving them in Kowalczyk’s care, Olson said. — oregonlive, "Man described as ‘worst of the worst’ sentenced to 270 years for repeated sex abuse, torture of three young girls," 9 Sep. 2019 While most people who can afford that watch would probably try to take excellent care of it, Beckham is playing football in it. — Andrew Joseph, For The Win, "Odell Beckham Jr. is wearing a $350K Richard Mille watch during his Browns debut," 8 Sep. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb More recently, her son and daughter, Cheryl Madsen, had been caring for her, according to the warrant. — Christine Dempsey, courant.com, "Son charged with cruelty after neglect of dying mother in North Canaan, state police say," 17 Sep. 2019 In the end, Sundquist, the former Broncos general manager and Air Force fullback, doesn’t care who’s to blame for The 44-Year Freeze. — Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, "Why renewal of CU Buffs-Air Force football game “should’ve been done a long time ago”," 13 Sep. 2019 Sharing is caring, and putting someone onto a luxurious hand cream gives me copious amounts of joy. — Maya Allen, Marie Claire, "Why Byredo's Rose Hand Cream Is Worth It," 11 Sep. 2019 Herpetological Associates is caring for the rattler. — Fox News, "Rare, two-headed rattlesnake found in New Jersey, 'probably wouldn't survive in the wild'," 6 Sep. 2019 But the country struggles to care for its own citizens. — The Christian Science Monitor, "Africa rises for immigrant rights," 6 Sep. 2019 Microsoft hasn’t seemed to care that much about market share, per se, in terms of evaluating Windows’ reach. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "Microsoft did it: Windows 10 now powers over half of the world's PCs," 6 Sep. 2019 For more information on hair products for post-protective styles care, visit Palmers.com. — Essence, "4 Steps To Restoring Your Hair After a Protective Style," 3 Sep. 2019 Participants in these online communities care very much about whether vaccines are harmful and actively try to learn the truth. — Scientific American, "How Misinformation Spreads—and Why We Trust It," 3 Sep. 2019

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

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for care

care

noun

English Language Learners Definition of care

(Entry 1 of 2)

: effort made to do something correctly, safely, or without causing damage

: things that are done to keep someone healthy, safe, etc.

: things that are done to keep something in good condition

care

verb

English Language Learners Definition of care (Entry 2 of 2)

: to feel interest in something : to be interested in or concerned about something

: to feel affection for someone

somewhat formal : to want to do something or to be something

See the full definition for care in the English Language Learners Dictionary

care

noun

\ ˈker

Kids Definition of care

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : serious attention Care is needed when crossing a busy street.

2 : protection sense 1, supervision The injured player is under a doctor's care.

3 : proper maintenance of property or equipment

4 : a feeling of concern or worry He acts as if he hasn't a care in the world.

care

verb

cared; caring

Kids Definition of care (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to feel interest or concern We care about what happens to you.

2 : to provide help, protection, or supervision to : look after His job is to care for the sick.

3 : to have a liking or desire Do you care for more tea?

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, health care, intensive care, primary care, tertiary care

Keep scrolling for more

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

Keep scrolling for more