concern

American  

[kuhn-surn] / kənˈsɜrn /

verb (used with object)

• concerns,
  present (3rd person singular)
• concerned,
  past participle,  past
• concerning
  present participle

1. to relate to; be connected with; be of interest or importance to; affect.

   The water shortage concerns us all.

   Synonyms:

   involve, touch

2. to interest or engage (used reflexively or in the passive, often followed by with orin ).

   She concerns herself with every aspect of the business.

3. to trouble, worry, or disquiet.

   I am concerned about his health.

   Synonyms:

   disturb

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noun

• concerns
  plural

1. something that relates or pertains to a person; business; affair.

   Law is the concern of lawyers.

2. a matter that engages a person's attention, interest, or care, or that affects a person's welfare or happiness.

   The party was no concern of his.

   Synonyms:

   responsibility, burden

3. worry, solicitude, or anxiety.

   to show concern for someone in trouble.

   Antonyms:

   indifference

4. important relation or bearing.

   This news is of concern to all of us.

5. a commercial or manufacturing company or establishment.

   the headquarters of an insurance concern.

   Synonyms:

   house, firm

6. Informal. any material object or contrivance.

concern British  

/ kənˈsɜːn /

verb

1. to relate to; be of importance or interest to; affect

2. to involve or interest (oneself)

   he concerns himself with other people's affairs

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noun

1. something that affects or is of importance to a person; affair; business

2. regard for or interest in a person or a thing

   he felt a strong concern for her

3. anxiety, worry, or solicitude

4. important bearing or relation

   his news has great concern for us

5. a commercial company or enterprise

6. informal a material thing, esp one of which one has a low opinion

concern Idioms  

1. see as far as that goes (is concerned); to whom it may concern.

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Usage

What is a basic definition of concern? Concern means to relate to or to affect, to interest or engage, or to worry. Concern also has several senses as a noun. If an issue or problem concerns someone, it means that it involves them or will affect them personally.

• Real-life examples: The price of gas concerns drivers. Stock market prices concern investors. Global warming concerns everyone.
• Used in a sentence: Our conversation doesn’t concern you, so leave us alone. 

As a noun, this sense of concern means something that is closely related to something else or something that is a main focus.

• Used in a sentence: Fires are the concern of the fire department. 

Concern can also mean to interest someone or draw their attention. In this sense, it is often followed by with or in.

• Real-life examples: You might concern yourself with your friend’s problem because you care about them. When you’re taking a test, your teacher might remind students to be concerned only with their own papers. Your parents concern themselves with your health.
• Used in a sentence: Chuck doesn’t concern himself with other people’s problems. 

Concern is used as a noun in this sense to mean a matter or issue that a person cares about.

• Used in a sentence: What my neighbors do to their lawn is no concern of mine. 

Lastly, concern means to worry or cause anxiety.

• Real-life examples: You might be concerned about your grades. Politicians are often concerned about whether voters will keep voting for them. Your friend might be concerned about whether you both make the basketball team.
• Used in a sentence: Her brother’s failing health really concerns Joelene,  and she has been losing sleep over it. 

As a noun, concern is a synonym of words such as worry or anxiety.

• Used in a sentence: We try to ease parents’ concern by showing them that the school is completely safe and monitored. 

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• overconcern
  noun
• preconcern
  noun
• self-concern
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• concerns
  plural

Participles

• concerning
  present
• concerned
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• concern
  simple
• concerns
  simple
• have concerned
  perfect
• has concerned
  perfect
• am concerning
  progressive
• are concerning
  progressive
• is concerning
  progressive
• have been concerning
  perfect progressive
• has been concerning
  perfect progressive

Past

• concerned
  simple
• had concerned
  perfect
• was concerning
  progressive
• were concerning
  progressive
• had been concerning
  perfect progressive

Future

• will concern
  simple
• will have concerned
  perfect
• will be concerning
  progressive
• will have been concerning
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of concern

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English concernen, from Middle French concerner, from Medieval Latin concernere “to relate to, distinguish,” from Late Latin: “to mix for sifting,” from Latin con- con- + cernere “to decide, separate, sift”

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Explanation

Concern is both a noun and a verb. As a noun it's something that you find particularly important. If you love pizza, getting the crust just so is a major concern during your pizza party. Concern can also be something or someone that makes you upset or anxious, like your concern over the quality of the pizza crust. It can be a feeling of sympathy, like when your mom expresses concern over your obsession with pizza crust. As a verb, concern means to be relevant to something. Your main goal today may concern studying for your math test. Concern can also describe worry. When you stay out past curfew, your mom will be concerned.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

concern concerns concerned concerning

Although mirror life does not currently exist, some experts consider its potential creation a serious biological safety concern.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026

One area of concern is on Highway 1 in Ventura County near Point Mugu, where water got underneath the roadway and weakened it, which “makes it more susceptible to additional tidal events,” Hall said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026

"Our main concern is the safety of the public," he said.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

While huge demand for AI chips has powered their earnings growth, investors are watching companies’ spending on their AI buildout carefully on concern that the aggressive pace may not be sustainable.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026

They concern me more than the grim soldiers marching about with weapons or the threat of a warbling air raid siren.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Baltimore is a black-majority city, so much of “Flashback” concerns black life.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026

Rescue efforts have been complicated by concerns that excavation using diggers could limit the supply of air to those trapped, prompting emergency responders to cease using them, according to the Daily Nation newspaper.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

These concerns have encouraged scientists to investigate ways to reduce body fat while protecting the muscles needed for long-term health.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026

Unions vowed to push ahead on the banned route, citing safety concerns over the alternative.

From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026

Within hours of his swearing-in, Grabarek sat down with a group of black student leaders to hear their concerns.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Scientists are concerned that organisms assembled from reversed biological building blocks could interact with existing life in unexpected ways.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026

“Now we are more concerned that we get your ballot,” she said.

From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2026

While researchers celebrated the results, Wall Street was concerned that they might not be enough to persuade doctors to use what is expected to be a costly new combination.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

But some in the industry are concerned about how people were told about the critical vulnerabilities in PHP, as they fear improvements in AI will throw up more incidents like it.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

While she was on board with the goal of the mission, it was its spur-of-the-moment quality that concerned her.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

As long as they adhere to price caps, agree to certain labor requirements and fix repairs that arise, they’re protected from lawsuits from buyers concerning defects 10 years after construction of the home.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026

Dr Schnack says if you have a symptom that is "new, concerning or doesn't go away", it is "responsible health behaviour" to check the NHS website.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Romig, however, said that the SSA’s message to the public was concerning.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

“An imported case is concerning, but with a rapid and transparent response, the risk can be contained,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

His only regret concerning the Durham charrette was that C.P. and Ann ended up working too well together.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

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Related Words

• care
• concernment
• consideration
• heed
• interest
• regard
• solicitousness
• solicitude

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