Meaning & use
care
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
Serious attention or concern given to doing something well, safely, or correctly.
Grammar: No plural in this sense; use with with, over, or in take care.
Patterns
- with care
- take care over something
- handle something with care
She packaged the glassware with great care.
Take care over the wording of the message.
The nurse moved the patient with care.
noununcountable
The provision of help, protection, or what someone needs to live well or stay healthy.
Grammar: No plural here; contrast countable cares meaning worries.
Patterns
- care of someone
- in someone's care
- medical care
The children received excellent care after school.
He was placed in the care of his aunt.
Good dental care prevents many problems.
nounusually singularliterary
A worry or burden, especially a continuing responsibility that weighs on the mind.
Grammar: Often in phrases like free from care; plural cares is more literary.
Patterns
- free from care
- the cares of something
A holiday helped her forget the cares of work.
He seemed free from care for the first time in months.
verbintransitive
To feel concern, interest, or sympathy about someone or something.
Grammar: No object; commonly followed by about, or by for in careful use.
Patterns
- care about someone
- care what happens
- not care for something
I care about what happens to the neighborhood.
She does not care what people think.
He never seemed to care for crowds.
verbtransitive
To look after someone or something and provide for their needs.
Grammar: Usually in care for or take care of with an object.
Patterns
- care for someone
- take care of something
- care for a patient
They care for their elderly neighbor.
Can you take care of the plants this week?
Nurses care for patients around the clock.
Word forms
| noun plural | cares |
|---|---|
| third person singular | cares |
| past tense | cared |
| past participle | cared |
| -ing form | caring |
Common combinations
- take care of
- Please take care of the dog while we are away.
- take care
- Take care driving home in the rain.
- with care
- Open the box with care because the lid is loose.
- medical care
- The clinic provides low-cost medical care.
- child care
- Reliable child care helps parents keep working.
Synonyms and how they differ
- attention
- Attention emphasizes focus on details; care adds concern for correctness or safety.
- concern
- Concern names worry or interest; care more often includes action or responsibility.
- caution
- Caution stresses avoiding danger or mistakes, while care can be broader and warmer.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: care or careful? care or carry?
care vs careful
Careful describes a person or action; care is the general noun or verb behind it.
care vs carry
Carry means to move or support something; care relates to attention or concern.
Practice
Choose the best sentence.
Choose one answer.
Take care of is the correct phrase for looking after something. I will care the plants is missing for, and take care the plants omits of; option four is grammatical but less natural because it is overloaded and less direct than take care of.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “care”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.