care
keh-uh
Care (noun) means Serious attention or effort put into avoiding mistakes or harm. Example: “Please handle the packages with care.”
noun
1
Serious attention or effort put into avoiding mistakes or harm.
"Please handle the packages with care."
"She reviewed the contract with great care before signing."
"He carried the full cup of tea across the room with great care."
2
Worry or concern about something.
"He tried to hide the cares weighing on him."
"Money troubles were a constant care for the family."
"She seemed to have not a care in the world on holiday."
3
The looking after of someone's health, safety, or wellbeing.
"The elderly need round-the-clock care in some cases."
"The hospital provides excellent care to newborns."
"The nurses gave the patient gentle care throughout the long night."
verb
1
To feel concern or interest about something.
"I really care what happens to this project."
"Nobody seemed to care about the missed deadline."
"Do you care whether we eat here or somewhere else tonight?"
2
To look after someone or something (usually with "for").
"She cares for her father, who has dementia."
"Volunteers care for injured wildlife at the shelter."
"My neighbour cares for our cat whenever we go away on holiday."
How to use care
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the worry you feel about something, or the effort and attention you give to keeping someone or something safe and well.
Common mistake
"Care for" usually means look after (she cares for her mother), while "care about" means find important (she cares about the outcome) — mixing them up changes the meaning.
Common pairings
take care of
care for someone
with great care
health care
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Word forms
- Plural
- cares
- Third person singular
- cares
- Past tense
- cared
- Archaic forms
- carest, caredst, careth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Please handle the packages with _____.
Etymology
From Old English caru/cearu ("worry, sorrow, concern"), from a Germanic root meaning "to cry out" — the word originally leaned more toward grief than the neutral "attention" sense it carries today.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
let slide
neglect
Related words
Rhymes for care
See all rhymes for care →Frequently asked questions
What does “care” mean?
The word “care” means serious attention or effort put into avoiding mistakes or harm. In plain terms, either the worry you feel about something, or the effort and attention you give to keeping someone or something safe and well.
How do you pronounce “care”?
“Care” is pronounced keh-uh (/kɛɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “care” in a sentence?
Here is “care” used in a sentence: “Please handle the packages with care.”
What is another word for “care”?
Words with a similar meaning to “care” include becare, bother, concern oneself, heed, mind and reck.
What is the opposite of “care”?
The opposite of “care” — its antonyms — are let slide and neglect.
What part of speech is “care”?
Depending on how it is used, “care” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “care” come from?
The word “care” comes from Old English. From Old English caru/cearu ("worry, sorrow, concern"), from a Germanic root meaning "to cry out" — the word originally leaned more toward grief than the neutral "attention" sense it carries today.
Is “care” a common word?
“Care” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between care and caution?
Both involve avoiding harm, but they differ in focus. 'Care' is the serious attention and effort you put into doing something well and avoiding mistakes. 'Caution' is specifically wariness about danger or risk — holding back to stay safe. You handle fragile glass with care, and you cross a busy road with caution.
What is the opposite of 'care' in this sense?
The opposite is 'carelessness' — a lack of attention that leads to mistakes or harm. Related opposites include 'negligence,' 'recklessness,' and 'sloppiness.' Where care means handling a task thoughtfully and thoroughly, carelessness means rushing or ignoring detail, so errors slip through. 'Neglect' captures the same failure to give something proper attention.
Why is care important?
Care matters because attention to detail prevents costly mistakes and avoidable harm. Work done with care is safer, more accurate, and more trustworthy — whether it is a surgeon's precision, a builder's measurements, or a proofreader's eye. Taking care also shows respect for the task and for the people who depend on the result.
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