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 My parents took care of my material needs with generosity. Sahaj Kaur Kohli, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 Warriors head coach Steve Kerr prioritizes players who can consistently take care of the ball which gives some insight as to why Moody was getting limited minutes before. Jannelle Moore, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 The lifespan of a stand mixer largely depends on how well it’s taken care of and how often it’s used. Laura Denby, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Mar. 2024 The first officer allowed the captain to take a nap and then dosed off himself, later attributing his sleepiness to helping take care of his one-month-old twins at home. Ryan Erik King / Jalopnik, Quartz, 12 Mar. 2024 The program enables case managers to take care of social determinants that could hinder an individual's recovery. Jessica Van Egeren, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 Remember, with all the focus on your kid’s sleep, don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. Katia Hetter, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 Saving money was the number one reason for moving home, according to a Bloomberg News and Harris Poll survey, followed by taking care of older family members or dealing with immediate financial constraints. Jasmine Li, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 Titanosaurs likely had a hands-off parenting style, similar to many reptiles that lay numerous eggs and don’t spend much time tending the nest or taking care of hatchlings. Kristi Curry Rogers, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take care.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of take care was in 1562

Cite this Entry

“Take care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20care. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on take care

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