Synonyms

day care

American

[dey kair] / ˈdeɪ ˌkɛər /

noun

supervised daytime care for preschool children, the elderly, or those with chronic disabilities, usually provided at a center outside the home.

Finding quality day care that we can afford has been challenging.

adjective

of, relating to, or providing day care.

daycare center;
day-care program.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

day cares

plural

Etymology

Origin of day care

First recorded in 1895–1900 for noun, and 1940–45 for adjective

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.

In many states, centers don’t need licenses, making it easier to open one than a day care.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

The $35 average hourly rate for a home health aide was only up 3%, assisted living was up 5% and adult day care was actually down 5%.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

Most caregivers do not delve into the details of the cost of a private room versus a shared room, or adult day care versus home care, until they are in the thick of it.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

“I have to make arrangements to make sure that my day care is a priority so that I can be able to go to work,” Locke said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026

I’ve got to get Raymond and Leda ready for day care and watch them afterward.

From "Towers Falling" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023