caring

American  

[kair-ing] / ˈkɛər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. 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.

2. 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.

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noun

1. the act or practice of showing concern for, displaying attentiveness to, or tending to the needs of others.

   In these stories, we can see what caring, compassion, and altruism look like distilled to their purest forms.

   During this nursing course, you will study caring, communication, health promotion, and infection prevention.

caring British  

/ ˈkɛərɪŋ /

adjective

1. feeling or showing care and compassion

   a caring attitude

2. of or relating to professional social or medical care

   nursing is a caring job

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noun

1. the practice or profession of providing social or medical care

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• caringly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of caring

First recorded in 1550–60; see 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.

Example Sentences

To the Knicks, neutralizing Wembanyama comes down to one thing: not caring which of their shooters ends up with the ball in his hands.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Where the former implemented carefully considered, brief glimpses of its female lead to shade her character’s textures, “Obsession” stops caring about Nikki the moment her silhouette is completed.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026

A GoFundMe page created to help support the family’s expenses described Marine as “a caring mother and wife who found comfort in organization and enjoyed gatherings among her loved ones.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

The film addresses complicated familial bonds and his mother’s experience caring for others.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

Magic shouted with glee, not caring in the least what the trick was or upon whom it was to be played.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

Related Words

• accessible
• advantageous
• applicable
• conducive
• constructive
• convenient
• cooperative
• crucial
• essential
• favorable
• friendly
• important
• invaluable
• practical
• productive
• profitable
• significant
• suitable
• supportive
• sympathetic