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.
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.
to feel concern about.
He doesn't care what others say.
to wish; desire; like.
Would you care to dance?
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.
(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
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
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
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.
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.
First recorded before 900; Middle English noun care “sadness, sorrow, grief,” Old English caru, cearu, cognate with Gothic kara, Old High German chara “lament”
First recorded in 1945–50; shortening of C(ooperative for) A(merican) R(elief) E(verywhere)
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.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Until we understand the full picture, we can’t responsibly predict a timeline or outcome. What we can promise is thorough, attentive care every step of the way.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
The organisation which commissions specialist NHS care in Wales said funding was available but treatment was decided by clinical assessment.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
“Might happen, but we take care of things.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
A Dutch student team Tuesday unveiled what they believe to be the world's first solar-powered ambulance, which they hope can bring much-needed medical care to the remotest parts of the globe.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
“I’m raising money for the Elder care program back on our rez. My mom and sister beaded those.”
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
"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
"It's concerning because this legislation aims to protect vulnerable women, and it aims to combat human trafficking," said Dr Rebecca Stevenson of CARE.
From BBC ● Jan. 3, 2024
Mr. Comer said the State Department’s Coordinator for Afghan Relocation, or CARE, is at the center of those efforts.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 21, 2023
CARE, an organization that works with impoverished communities, is accepting donations that will go toward food, shelter and hygiene kits, among other items.
From New York Times ● Feb. 6, 2023
So the next card I wrote was DAY CARE, which is what Bran and I called school.
From "Silent To The Bone" by E.L. Konigsburg
But despite these odd and somewhat unfashionable choices, he cares deeply about the opinion of the average theatergoer.
From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026
"And I'd hate to lose anybody that cares."
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
The label she cares more about is actor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
Down on our planet’s surface, a would-be global catastrophe—potentially knocking out entire electrical grids—is reduced to a nighttime display for anyone who cares to look up and see the Northern Lights.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
“No one cares what I think. I’m just...just an eleven-year-old child.”
From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate
"His legacy would be as a prime Coventry musician who did so much and cared so much about his home city."
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
I thought that was funny, but I didn’t know if that would be something anyone cared about.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Namtip Tubsook and her husband Suwitcha Sirililung left behind two children, aged four and five, who are now being cared for by their grandmother, Nid.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
Meanwhile, Luke Winkie talked with several newly minted fans who never cared about the sport—until they discovered Norway’s delightfully dorky star player Erling Haaland.
From Slate ● Jul. 10, 2026
His paws and shirt were stained with purple, but he no longer cared about his appearance.
From "Abel's Island" by William Steig
"Lucy was caring, funny, clever and always smiling," they said in a statement, adding it was "a pub full of broken hearts".
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
“His acts of kindness and caring was his gift of Aloha to friends and strangers alike,” the company stated.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026
"These processes may be beneficial when caring for multiple children."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026
He was just a young man looking at a symbol of power and not caring much about who that power was used to subjugate.
From Slate ● Jul. 10, 2026
As he moved onto my other hand, either not caring what the other boys might think or just entirely oblivious to it, he continued talking to me in that mesmerizing lilt of his.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
