concern

verb

con·cern | \ kən-ˈsərn

concerned; concerning; concerns

Definition of concern

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to relate to : be about The novel concerns three soldiers. The report concerns global warming.

b : to bear on

2 : to have an influence on : involve also : to be the business or affair of The problem concerns us all. This conversation does not concern you.

3 : to be a care, trouble, or distress to Her ill health concerns me. Her son's frequent tantrums concerned her.

4 : engage entry 1, occupy He concerns himself with trivia. She refused to concern herself with such gossip.

intransitive verb

obsolete : to be of importance : matter

concern

noun

Definition of concern (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : marked interest or regard usually arising through a personal tie or relationship Their friend's health is a constant cause of concern.

b : an uneasy state of blended interest, uncertainty, and apprehension The actor's sudden collapse on stage caused concern.

2 : something that relates or belongs to one : affair It's no concern of yours.

3a : matter for consideration Immigration had become a concern to Congress.

b : a matter that causes feelings of unease, uncertainty, or apprehension health/safety concerns "Just throw it into the sun!" That phrase has long been the seemingly easy answer to … very serious concerns about what to do with nuclear waste.— Dave Trumbore

4 : an organization or establishment for business or manufacture a banking concern a commercial concern

5 : contrivance, gadget

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about concern

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for concern

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 concern in a Sentence

Verb

The novel concerns three soldiers. This study concerns the noise levels in cities. This conversation doesn't concern you. Our mother's illness concerns us.

Noun

They have expressed concern about the cost of the project. There is some concern that the economy might worsen. I share your concern about these problems. Their friend's health is a constant source of concern. The governor needs to address voters' concerns about the economy. They have raised concerns about the cost of the project. Their friend's health is a constant concern. His concern with the well-being of his family is obvious. She has always shown genuine concern for the poor. I appreciate your concern, but there's really nothing you can do to help.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

To date, that hasn’t happened, at least where Windows 7 is concerned. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "Windows 7 will use pop-ups to warn users of the operating system's impending death," 12 Mar. 2019 Many are concerned that miscommunication between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump may stymy diplomatic talks. — Elizabeth Myong, Houston Chronicle, "Russians in Houston have diverse views on international affairs," 8 July 2018 But the worsening conditions were concerning rescuers and volunteers. — Thomas Maresca, USA TODAY, "Thai navy SEAL commander: 'Limited amount of time' left to rescue trapped soccer team," 6 July 2018 What’s concerning about Juul is that each pod pack contains as much nicotine as one to two packs of cigarettes. — Julia Belluz, Vox, "7 bad science and health ideas that should die with 2018," 26 Dec. 2018 That to me is most concerning about where our country is going. — Fox News, "Sen. Lindsey Graham on Kavanaugh hearings, bid to declassify documents," 9 Sep. 2018 His low libido could be a clue to other concerning health problems, says Phil Nguyen, M.D., an erectile dysfunction expert with the Boston Medical Group. — Sarah Jio, Woman's Day, "10 Reasons Your Husband Doesn't Want to Have Sex," 21 Feb. 2019 The spectacle was a romantic gesture from Kanye, but many fans were concerned about Kenny G's well being, since the musician seemed to stuck in a room filled with single roses! — Carolyn Twersky, Seventeen, "Here's How All of Your Favorite Celeb Couples Celebrated Valentine's Day," 15 Feb. 2019 As long as the discharge is clear or white and has no bad smell, this is normal and nothing to be concerned about, confirms Dr. Tolaymat. — Elizabeth Durand Streisand, Good Housekeeping, "What the Color of Your Vaginal Discharge Means, According to Gynos," 27 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Tymoshenko said the proceedings were politically motivated revenge, and Western governments voiced concern about her incarceration. — Yuras Karmanau, The Seattle Times, "Comedian leads presidential polling in Ukraine," 30 Mar. 2019 That didn't stop The Gothamist from getting this beautiful drone shot down the Vessel: Hudson Yards's original terms and conditions raised concerns from some people, who worried its image use rights were overbroad. — House Beautiful, "Everything You Need to Know About Hudson Yards, New York's $25 Billion Neighborhood," 19 Mar. 2019 Pilots for at least two different airlines had previously raised concerns about the automatic nose-down safety feature of the Boeing Max 8. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "Pilot of Doomed Ethiopian Airlines Flight Reported Control Problems Shortly After Takeoff," 13 Mar. 2019 Kensington Palace raised concerns over racist social media trolls as far back as November 2016, when the couple were dating. — Victoria Murphy, Town & Country, "How the Internet’s Obsession with the Royal Family Turned Toxic," 10 Feb. 2019 And a New York Times investigation raised similar concerns. — Tara C. Smith, SELF, "How Worried Do You Need to Be About Asbestos in Baby Powder and Other Talc Products?," 31 Jan. 2019 But when studies seemed to rule out most of the disease concern, regulators returned them to the market in 2006. — Matthew Perrone, The Seattle Times, "US experts: Too soon to pull breast implants tied to cancer," 26 Mar. 2019 For most of January, county officials urged residents in 22 municipalities in the Mon Valley nearby to limit outdoor activities out of concern for high levels of sulfur dioxide, and U.S. Steel has begun offering free health screenings. — Kris Maher, WSJ, "Pittsburgh Air-Quality Problem Recalls the Bad Old Days," 12 Mar. 2019 Twice a day for seven days, apply cosmetics of potential concern to a spot like the sensitive skin where your forearm creases, says Dr. Elliott. — Jessica Toscano, SELF, "Here's What It Means If You Got a Skin Reaction From Your Makeup," 1 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'concern.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.