concerning

American  

[kuhn-sur-ning] / kənˈsɜr nɪŋ /

preposition

1. relating to; regarding; about.

   We attended a discussion concerning foreign aid.

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adjective

1. causing concern, worry, or anxiety.

   The increase in unlicensed practitioners is concerning.

   The more concerning elements of the sport were swept under the rug.

concerning British  

/ kənˈsɜːnɪŋ /

preposition

1. about; regarding; on the subject of

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adjective

1. worrying or troublesome

Etymology

Origin of concerning

First recorded in 1375–1425; concern ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does concerning compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• disconcerting vs. concerning

Example Sentences

Yet there have also been queries about Newcastle's direction of travel from external quarters as the wait for updates concerning the future of St James' Park and a new state-of-the-art training ground goes on.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

One of the most concerning conclusions is that warming temperatures are changing how glacier surges behave, making them harder to predict at a time when accurate forecasts are critical.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

“Of course, it’s concerning to watch the news, and you can’t help but feel terribly sorry for people who are exposed to all these terrible things,” Hagen said.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

During talks in Pakistan, the U.S. asked Iran to agree not to enrich uranium for 20 years, people familiar with the matter said, softening previous demands concerning Tehran’s nuclear program.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

I lived in Atlanta, Georgia, but I had been admitted to the Alabama bar a year earlier after working on some cases in Alabama concerning jail and prison conditions.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson