Meaning & use
concern
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
A feeling of worry about a problem or possible problem.
Grammar: Use about/over for the topic; use for when you mean care toward someone.
Patterns
- concern about something
- concern for someone
- express concern
There is growing concern about air pollution.
She felt concern for the children waiting outside.
nouncountable
A matter that is important to someone or that needs attention.
Grammar: Takes a plural: cost, safety, and time are separate concerns.
Patterns
- main concern
- a matter of concern
- raise a concern
The main concern is whether the bridge is safe.
He raised a concern about the deadline during the meeting.
nouncountableformalold-fashioned
A business or company, especially in older or formal English.
Grammar: Formal; learners more often meet business or company.
Patterns
- a family concern
- a going concern
- a commercial concern
The shop was a family concern for three generations.
The once-busy mill is no longer a going concern.
Word forms
| plural | concerns |
|---|
Common combinations
- express concern
- Doctors expressed concern about the rising infection rate.
- growing concern
- There is growing concern over water shortages.
- concern for safety
- The new rules show concern for safety.
- main concern
- Her main concern was getting home before midnight.
Synonyms and how they differ
- worry
- Worry is everyday and personal; concern can sound more measured or public.
- anxiety
- Anxiety is stronger and may be clinical; concern is often milder.
- issue
- Issue names a topic needing attention; it does not itself mean worry.
- matter
- Matter is neutral and formal; concern adds importance or unease.
Opposites
Word family
- concern verb
- to relate to, affect, or make worried
- concerned adjective
- worried, or involved with something
- concerning preposition
- about; relating to
- unconcerned adjective
- not worried or not interested
Commonly confused: concern or worried?
concern vs worried
Worried is an adjective; concern is a noun and verb: She is worried / Her concern grew.
Practice
Choose the best preposition: “There is widespread concern ___ the proposed dam.”
Choose one answer.
Concern about names the worrying topic. For can mean care toward someone, so it changes the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “concern”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.