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

Toronto’s best chance in this series comes from taking care of business at home where the Leafs were 27-13-1 during the season, while the Panthers were 20-19-2 on the road. —The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 3 May 2025

Leaders must model what thriving looks like by taking care of their own well-being—openly. —Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

All Americans must take care not to turn the First Amendment’s ban on establishment of religion from becoming a license to discriminate against religion. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 May 2025

His alibi, however, is rock solid thanks to Stephanie now living with him and taking care of his son. —Sezin Devi Koehler, EW.com, 1 May 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