caring
Americanadjective
-
feeling or showing care for, concern about, or attentiveness to other people's needs; compassionate; thoughtful.
I often speak of our desire to build a smart and caring nation that nurtures its citizens.
He's such a caring person and a great friend to me.
-
relating to the task of identifying and tending to the needs of others, especially those who cannot look after themselves.
The study showed that in this country, women are responsible for the bulk of unpaid domestic and caring work.
Empathy is important in caring professions such as nursing and social work, but avoiding burnout is also essential.
noun
adjective
-
feeling or showing care and compassion
a caring attitude
-
of or relating to professional social or medical care
nursing is a caring job
noun
Other Word Forms
- caringly adverb
Etymology
Origin of caring
First recorded in 1550–60; care ( def. ), -ing 1 ( def. ), -ing 2 ( def. )
Explanation
Commonly referred to as that "warm fuzzy feeling," caring is the kindness or love you have towards another individual. You can also use caring (as an adjective) to describe a person who acts in this warm and fuzzy way. There's a reason for the saying "caring is sharing." You and your best buddy might exhibit caring, or affection, by sharing secrets, hugs, and the contents of your lunch boxes. Caring can also be an adjective. Caring nurses, parents, and teachers are great "caregivers" because they dole out warm fuzziness all day long. Well, at least sometimes.
Vocabulary lists containing caring
Positive Words to Describe People, List 1
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Words to Describe a Friend
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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.
On Tuesday, a new trial for criminal negligence will begin of the seven-strong medical team that was caring for Maradona in his final days, as he was recovering from brain surgery.
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
One of his students even crashes with him for a time, echoing Jimmy’s blurred lines between orderly professionalism and invasive shows of caring.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
“I’ve been caring for my mother, and we each currently occupy a unit in the house.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
He said he was "very busy" trying to balance caring with studying his A-levels, as he hopes to become a nuclear physicist, as well as supporting other young carers.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
"I find myself not caring a whole lot."
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
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.
