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

However, clarity should be coming soon, even sooner if Alabama takes care of business in the Iron Bowl on Saturday. —Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, who have been criticized for looking sluggish and not too explosive despite the win streak, had issues taking care of the football on the night, resulting in three first-half fumbles. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 28 Nov. 2025

Kelly Clarkson Home Fraser Fir Pre-Lit Christmas Tree Let Kelly Clarkson take care of your Christmas tree this year. —Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Nov. 2025

Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. —Jasmin Suknanan,jason Stauffer, CNBC, 28 Nov. 2025

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