care

[ kair ]

/ kɛər /

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noun

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.: Their son has always been a great 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), cared, car·ing.

to be concerned or solicitous; have thought or regard.

to be concerned or have a special preference (usually used in negative constructions): I don't care if I do.

to make provision or look out (usually followed by for): Will you care for the children while I am away?

to have an inclination, liking, fondness, or affection (usually followed by for): Would you care for dessert? I don't care for him very much.

verb (used with object), cared, car·ing.

to feel concern about: He doesn't care what others say.

to wish; desire; like: Would you care to dance?

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about care

couldn't care less, could not care less; be completely unconcerned: I couldn't care less whether she goes to the party or not.Also could care less.

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 act on; deal with; attend to: to take care of paying a bill.

Origin of care

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun care “sadness, sorrow, grief,” Old English caru, cearu, cognate with Gothic kara, Old High German chara “lament”

synonym study for care

3. 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.

usage note for care

13. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM care

carer, nounnon·car·ing, adjectiveo·ver·care, nounun·car·ing, adjective

Other definitions for care (2 of 2)

CARE

or Care

[ kair ]

/ kɛər /

noun

a private organization for the collection of funds, goods, etc., for distribution to people in foreign countries who need aid.

Origin of CARE

First recorded in 1945–50; shortening of C(ooperative for) A(merican) R(elief) E(verywhere)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use care in a sentence

Who cares of Barack Hussein Obama is president and gays are getting married?
The Evangelical Apocalypse Is All Your Fault|Jay Michaelson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The NFL cares about only one thing: protecting the 32 franchise owners.
Roger Goodell and the NFL’s Path to Power|Robert Silverman|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Bible explicitly and repeatedly calls for the construction of a system that protects and cares for these groups.
Pope Bids Refugees to EU ‘Bienvenido’; Europe Says ‘Non’|Candida Moss|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No one cares whether one of those names is going to be Mrs. Mellark or Mrs. Hawthorne.
Team Peeta or Team Gale: Why the ‘Hunger Games’ Love Triangle Ruins ‘Mockingjay – Part 1’|Kevin Fallon|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

By day, she cares for her children in a bombed-out milk factory that hosts her orphanage, Okutiuka.
Death Metal Angola: Heavy Metal in War-Torn Africa|Nina Strochlic|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The cathedral is the only Spanish parochial church; it cares for two thousand four hundred souls.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
This habit and the fact that she cares more for color than for drawing are the usual criticisms of her pictures.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
If among them is one who cares to work with a fever of industry that even socialism cannot calm, let him do it.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
Under the present order and with the present gloomy preconceptions they have been the least of its collective cares.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
I don't believe that Dorothy Chester cares a pin whether she gets in with rich folks or not!
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond

British Dictionary definitions for care (1 of 2)

care

/ (kɛə) /

verb

(when tr, may take a clause as object) to be troubled or concerned; be affected emotionallyhe 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

(intr foll by for) to have a desire or taste (for)would you care for some tea?

(intr foll by for) 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?

for all I care or I couldn't care less I am completely indifferent

noun

careful or serious attentionunder her care the plant flourished; he does his work with care

protective or supervisory controlin the care of a doctor

(often plural) trouble; anxiety; worry

an object of or cause for concernthe baby's illness was her only care

cautionhandle with care

care of at the address of: written on envelopesUsual abbreviation: c/o

in care or into care social welfare made the legal responsibility of a local authority by order of a court

Word Origin for care

Old English cearu (n), cearian (vb), of Germanic origin; compare Old High German chara lament, Latin garrīre to gossip

British Dictionary definitions for care (2 of 2)

CARE

/ (kɛə) /

n acronym for

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with care

care

In addition to the idiom beginning with care

care package

also see:

couldn't care less
for all (I care)
in care of
in charge (the care of)
take care
take care of
tender loving care
that's (takes care of) that

care

Idioms about care

Origin of care

synonym study for care

usage note for care

OTHER WORDS FROM care

Other definitions for care (2 of 2)

or Care

Origin of CARE

Words related to care

How to use care in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for care (1 of 2)

Word Origin for care

British Dictionary definitions for care (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with care