concerning

1 of 2

preposition

con·​cern·​ing kən-ˈsər-niŋ How to pronounce concerning (audio)
Synonyms of concerningnext
: relating to : regarding

concerning

2 of 2

adjective

: causing concern or worry : creating reason for concern : troubling
found the latest reports very concerning
"It's extremely concerning that drivers still choose to give their attention to things other than the road when they're behind the wheel," said [Texas Department of Transportation] Executive Director James Bass.The Nueces County Record Star
… carbapenems should not be administered to patients with positive penicillin skin test results or a concerning history of a type I allergic response to penicillin.Alan R. Salkind et al.
concerningly adverb
Of course, South Carolina roads are also concerningly dangerous for sober drivers. In 2015, the state ranked 7th for traffic deaths overall … The Post & Courier [Charleston, South Carolina]
"The waivers have driven destruction in Native American burial sites. They have killed thousands of species and fragmented habitat. Most concerningly, there is zero accountability or consequence for these outcomes." Gloria Smith

Examples of concerning in a Sentence

Preposition we had a meeting with the principal today concerning the new policy on student-run organizations
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Still, any increase in exposure and transmission comes with the risk of a virus or bacterium evolving to become something more concerning. K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 9 Apr. 2026 And yet, also more questions, questions arguably even more concerning, considering the lack of fight Tuesday night against the Toronto Raptors when hope was still alive for something better than a fourth consecutive trip to the daunting pre-playoffs. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026 October 30, 2025, was in some ways more concerning—a routine low-pressure system with a water bomb concealed in its clouds. Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 More concerning than the erratic command was the drop in velocity. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for concerning

Word History

First Known Use

Preposition

1535, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1740, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of concerning was in 1535

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Cite this Entry

“Concerning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/concerning. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

concerning

preposition
con·​cern·​ing
kən-ˈsər-niŋ
: relating to : about
news concerning friends

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