care
noun
a state of mind in which one is troubled; worry, anxiety, or concern.
care
1 American
[kair]
/ kɛər /
noun
-
cares
plural
-
a state of mind in which one is troubled; worry, anxiety, or concern.
He was never free from care.
-
a cause or object of worry, anxiety, concern, etc..
A massage is an excellent way to forget your cares for a little while.
Their son has always been a heavy care to them.
-
serious attention; solicitude; heed; caution.
She devotes great care to her work.
-
the provision of what is needed for the well-being or protection of a person or thing.
He is under the care of a doctor.
With proper care, the watch will last a lifetime.
-
temporary keeping, as for the benefit of or until claimed by the owner.
He left his valuables in the care of friends.
Address my mail in care of the American Embassy.
-
grief; suffering; sorrow.
verb (used without object)
-
cares,
present (3rd person singular)
-
cared,
past participle, past
-
caring
present participle
-
to be concerned or solicitous; have thought or regard.
You can just tell she cares for people's feelings by the way she talks to them.
-
to be concerned or have a special preference (usually used in negative constructions).
I don't care where we go, I just want to get out of town for a bit.
-
to make provision or look out (usually followed byfor ).
Will you care for the children while I am away?
-
to have an inclination, liking, fondness, or affection (usually followed byfor ).
Would you care for dessert?
I don't care for him very much.
verb (used with object)
-
cares,
present (3rd person singular)
-
cared,
past participle, past
-
caring
present participle
-
to feel concern about.
He doesn't care what others say.
-
to wish; desire; like.
Would you care to dance?
verb phrase
idioms
-
take care,
-
be alert; be careful.
Take care that you don't fall on the ice!
-
take care of yourself; goodbye: used as an expression of parting.
-
-
take care of,
-
to watch over; be responsible for.
to take care of an invalid.
-
to deal with; attend to.
I'll take care of the bill, and you can go out and get the car started.
-
-
couldn't care less, could not care less; be completely unconcerned: Also could care less.
I couldn't care less whether she goes to the party or not.
CARE
2
American
[kair]
/ kɛər /
Or
Care
noun
care
1
British
/ kɛə /
verb
-
(when tr, may take a clause as object) to be troubled or concerned; be affected emotionally
he is dying, and she doesn't care
-
(intr; foll by for or about) to have regard, affection, or consideration (for)
he cares more for his hobby than his job
-
to have a desire or taste (for)
would you care for some tea?
-
to provide physical needs, help, or comfort (for)
the nurse cared for her patients
-
(tr) to agree or like (to do something)
would you care to sit down, please?
-
I am completely indifferent
noun
-
careful or serious attention
under her care the plant flourished
he does his work with care
-
protective or supervisory control
in the care of a doctor
-
(often plural) trouble; anxiety; worry
-
an object of or cause for concern
the baby's illness was her only care
-
caution
handle with care
-
Usual abbreviation: c/o. at the address of: written on envelopes
-
social welfare made the legal responsibility of a local authority by order of a court
CARE
2
British
/ kɛə /
acronym
-
Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere, Inc.; a federation of US charities, giving financial and technical assistance to many regions of the world
-
communicated authenticity, regard, empathy: the three qualities believed to be essential in the therapist practising client-centred therapy
care
More Idioms
Usage
Couldn't care less, a phrase used to express indifference, is sometimes heard as could care less, which ought to mean the opposite but is intended to be synonymous with the former phrase. Both versions are common mainly in informal speech.
Synonym Usage
To take care, pains, trouble (to do something) implies watchful, conscientious effort to do something exactly right. To take care implies the performance of one particular detail: She took care to close the cover before striking the match. To take pains suggests a sustained carefulness, an effort to see that nothing is overlooked but that every small detail receives attention: to take pains with fine embroidery. To take trouble implies an effort that requires a considerable amount of activity and exertion: to take the trouble to make suitable arrangements.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
caresimple
-
caressimple
-
have caredperfect
-
has caredperfect
-
am caringprogressive
-
are caringprogressive
-
is caringprogressive
-
have been caringperfect progressive
-
has been caringperfect progressive
Past
-
caredsimple
-
had caredperfect
-
was caringprogressive
-
were caringprogressive
-
had been caringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of care1
First recorded before 900; Middle English noun care “sadness, sorrow, grief,” Old English caru, cearu, cognate with Gothic kara, Old High German chara “lament”
Origin of CARE2
First recorded in 1945–50; shortening of C(ooperative for) A(merican) R(elief) E(verywhere)
Explanation
To care is to feel concern, and care is attention given, tending, or upkeep. If you care about how your garden grows, you will take care to water it often, remove weeds, and talk to your plants about the weather. Care can be a noun or a verb. As a noun, it originally had the sense of “sorrow, anxiety” or “serious mental attention,” and now means “oversight, protection.” If you have a fragile package, you might write "handle with care" on the box. As a verb, care means “to feel concern or interest” — as in, "If you care about your health you'll put down that cigarette!" If someone says she "couldn't care less," then she does not care at all.
Vocabulary lists containing care
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He told the crowd in Plaza Independencia the care he received made him think of the "many men and women who lack the means to obtain a timely diagnosis" or receive treatment.
From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said "schools have pastoral care policies and structures" so that children know who they can contact if they require support regarding bereavement.
From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026
Does Joe Buck deserve $17 million a year, and should Troy Aikman even care, or know how much his partner is making?
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2026
“I’m aware of all those social issues, as you can imagine, and I care desperately about all the problems facing us,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
"No matter; go away! Go take care of your household and your field," the niece commanded.
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
"If large numbers of rescued dogs had entered adoption programmes, animal groups like us would know about them," said Kim Young-hwan, a representative of animal rights group CARE.
From Barron's ● Jun. 28, 2026
Other organisations to be suspended include CARE, Medico International and Medical Aid for Palestinians.
From BBC ● Dec. 30, 2025
Elsewhere, cattle in search of water walked into fields still muddy from last year’s heavy rains, only to get stuck, said Chikondi Chabvuta, a Malawi-based aid worker with CARE, the international relief organization.
From New York Times ● Apr. 18, 2024
Dr. LeRoy Carhart, the founder of CARE, said he would follow the law if the ordinance is approved, which could mean relocating from Bellevue, according to the Omaha World-Herald.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 14, 2022
In January 1996, Fischer led a high-profile fund-raising ascent of Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, that netted half a million dollars for the charity CARE.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
"I feel he's authentic, he cares but also that he's not scared to stand up," she added.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026
Nobody cares about anyone else’s miserable fantasy football team.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
This isn’t to say that either of them is a raging narcissist who cares only about themselves, but there’s no doubt that their sport’s seismic, life-altering dangers are on full display, warts and all.
From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2026
Abdullah said she cares deeply for Bass and considers her to be a longtime friend.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026
“Indeed. Tell your mother I can come any afternoon she cares to have me.”
From "Worth" by A. LaFaye
To someone who cared most about great writing, Salon was a paradise.
From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2026
“It was made with a really hands-on approach by a very small group of people who cared a lot and that spirit has remained even as we’ve scaled it up,” Pinkleton said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026
The statement said Cetina "cared for Emma and Charlie with tenderness and devotion, and she was truly part of the family".
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
For most of Netflix’s history, investors cared less about how much people watched than whether they signed up and stayed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
I never knew the dead cared about safety.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
Transferred to the Superhumans War Trauma Center in western Ukraine that specializes in caring for amputees, Vlasenko spoke with the Journal over several hours during two days last week.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Foreman — known as ”Big Ant” or simply “BA” — was described by Townsend as a caring, generous man with a booming laugh that could rattle windows.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026
Prevost was a passionate ambassador of Francis's encyclical "Laudato Si,'" which focuses on caring for the planet as "our common home."
From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026
He argues that an educational licence could allow him to support public understanding of badgers, wildlife rescue and caring for a protected species.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
I don’t want to have this caring, concerned friendship; I don’t want her to suggest another breakfast, another diner.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
