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

“Of those complex comments, approximately 12 expressed concern and/or disapproval” of California’s coastal management, according to the draft review, which referred to these comments in its recommendations for corrective actions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026

The second NHS investigation considered "the full scope" of Hall's work and concluded there was no cause for concern.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

Streaming service cites “intense competition’ and acknowledges ‘some investor concern about our view hours growth.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

May took a step toward him, her face a mask of puzzled concern.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

His lawyer said his client had "mental health concerns" but did not give any further detail.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

That is posing a test for French leaders as they seek to address their concerns and contain some of the worst unrest to sweep the country in years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● 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

“Abuelita Remedies,” I lied, relieved to see that the women had dropped their concerns.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Many investors aren’t too concerned with extraordinary profit growth being driven by a small group of companies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

Maresca, though, should be concerned by coming up against Fabian Hurzeler's free-scoring Brighton twice next week - in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, and Premier League on Saturday.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

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

In prior years, Larsen said, she avoided telling voters how or when to vote, concerned they might regret choices they made if critical information later emerged about the candidates.

From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2026

The other piece of news concerned home prices.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

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

This is particularly concerning when instruments designed for natural teeth are used on implants, because they can scrape and damage the metal surface.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

Another accepted the level of current injuries "doesn't help, but no excuse", claiming effort levels were "concerning".

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Early returns on the effect of large language models on student learning are concerning.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

But concerning the allegations against Rose, No. 28 vowed, “We are going to follow out this theory.”

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

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Related Words

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

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