take care

idiomatic phrase

1

: to be careful or watchful : to exercise caution or prudence

Because fish is more delicate than beef, take care when pounding it thin.

—Sam Gugino

Patients also should take care in storing their drugs because heat exposure could affect their efficacy, [Aaron] Bernstein says.

—Marlene Cimons

—often used informally to express good wishes when parting, at the end of a message, etc.

I'll see you next week. Take care!

2

: to give particular attention to doing or not doing something

When he had finished writing, Cluny pushed the parchment under his pillow, taking care to leave just a small corner of it jutting out.

—Brian Jacques

In this land of ritual, Westerners should take care to inform themselves of protocol.

—Jeff Morgan

Open oysters carefully just before they are required, taking care not to spill the liquor in their deep shells.

—Elizabeth Craig

see also take care of

Examples of take care in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Though her burial exemplified nothing extraordinary, as a woman with no status, the surgery demonstrates that the Pazyryk took care to tend to the sick and injured in their society, regardless of their station, Gizmodo reported. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026

In the meantime, the man whom my daughter is living with is now temporarily taking care of the 4-year-old. —Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026

The man is willing to take care of his grandson long term, if needed. —R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026

Trust that your child will be able to take care of themselves. —Jazmin Towe, Parents, 22 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for take care

• aftercare
• anywhere
• billionaire
• chinaware
• debonair
• dinnerware
• disrepair
• doctrinaire
• earthenware
• everywhere
• frigidaire
• kitchenware