care

noun

\ 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 Learn More about care

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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 Charging is taken care of via one of two ports available on the vehicle, a DC fast-charging CHAdeMO port (a standard seen more often in Japan) or Level 2 charging port. — Roberto Baldwin, Car and Driver, "2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Gets Bigger Motor and Battery at Same Price," 25 Feb. 2021 After a two-year legal battle, the Hagans reached a settlement with the hospital, ensuring that Libby’s needs would be taken care of for her lifetime. — Michelle Matthews | Mmatthews@al.com, al, "How Libby’s Friends is helping families across Alabama," 24 Feb. 2021 But Blackburn said the costs are much higher if veterans are not taken care of. — Abraham Mahshie, Washington Examiner, "Exclusive: Marsha Blackburn urges GOP to support Democratic bill to help sick post-9/11 veterans," 24 Feb. 2021 Her new husband took care of her finances, Darlene said. — AZCentral.com, "'I'm afraid to leave. I'm afraid to fail': Homeless for 6 years, Darlene wants to get off the streets ... or does she?," 22 Feb. 2021 Their grandmother, Le, had always taken care of them, dropping them off and picking them up from school and activities, to help Nguyen achieve her professional goals working in finance. — Hollie Silverman, CNN, "Three children and their grandmother perished in a Texas fire after trying to stay warm during power outages. Their mom survived," 21 Feb. 2021 Still, the Russo siblings, all three of them, took great care in making sure the underlying message of the film is a positive one. — cleveland, "Russo brothers come home, team up with sister to make ‘Cherry,’ their most personal film yet," 21 Feb. 2021 Other volunteers took care of registering patients, pre-filling the individual syringes and other logistical efforts. — NBC News, "Who is giving the Covid vaccines? States scramble to find vaccinators," 21 Feb. 2021 Food taken care of by the resort's three-meal dining system, included in the cost. — Travel + Leisure, "On a Family Trip Gone Awry, One Writer Learns to Finally Embrace the Unexpected," 20 Feb. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Similarly, few seem to care that this strike was a violation of Syrian sovereignty, part and parcel with the ongoing U.S. presence at Al-Tanf, a military base in Syria near the Iraqi border. — Jacob Silverman, The New Republic, "New President, Same Old Forever War," 26 Feb. 2021 The agency doesn’t care about the drugs, in the movie’s version of events. — K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, "‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’ Fails to Take Into Account the Life of the Woman We Still Love," 26 Feb. 2021 But the question has to be asked: Do the Celtics players even care? — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, "Is there any end in sight to the Celtics’ woeful stretch?," 25 Feb. 2021 Newer generations care less about products’ USPs and more about how the brand’s ethos aligns with their values. — Expert Panel®, Forbes, "15 Ways To Develop A Customer-Centric Content Strategy," 25 Feb. 2021 The hospital can care for as many as eight ECMO patients at once, depending on staffing. — Marshall Allen, ProPublica, "“I Don’t Trust the People Above Me”: Riot Squad Cops Open Up About Disastrous Response to Capitol Insurrection," 23 Feb. 2021 Under typical circumstances, an I.C.U. nurse might care for two patients. — John Keefe, New York Times, "See How Covid-19 Has Tested the Limits of Hospitals and Staff," 23 Feb. 2021 But for now, why should anyone care about Harry and Meghan? — Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, "Mitch Albom: A COVID-19 casualty that's not so bad: Celebrity obsession," 21 Feb. 2021 Rather than releasing Elizabeth Ann into the wild, specialists will care for and study her at an FWS facility in Colorado. — Rob Picheta, CNN, "Meet Elizabeth Ann the ferret: The first endangered American animal to be cloned," 19 Feb. 2021

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

1 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/care. Accessed 5 Mar. 2021.

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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, chronic care, health care, intensive care entry 1, primary care, secondary care, tertiary care

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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

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