care
A1Universal (common in all registers from informal to formal)
Definition
Meaning
A feeling of worry, interest, or responsibility for something or someone; serious attention, caution.
Can denote the provision of protection, help, or supervision (e.g., health care, child care). Also, a feeling of liking or affection.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, often used as an uncountable abstract concept. As a verb, 'care' can function as a main verb with a direct object ('He cares for his plants') or as a catenative verb taking a clause ('I don't care what you think').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling in compounds: BrE 'caretaker' (person), AmE also uses 'caretaker' but also 'janitor'. In 'daycare', AmE often writes as one word (daycare), BrE often hyphenates or separates (day-care, day care).
Connotations
In both varieties, 'care' in medical/health contexts is paramount; slight difference in social/welfare contexts, where 'social care' is a common BrE term.
Frequency
Both dialects use the word with extremely high and comparable frequency. No significant disparity.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
care about + NOUN/CLAUSE (mental concern)care for + NOUN (like, protect, look after)take care of + NOUN (look after)with care (adverbial phrase)care + WH-CLAUSE ('I don't care what...')Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take care (goodbye)”
- “couldn't care less”
- “handle with care”
- “care in the community”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"Customer care is our top priority." Refers to service and support provided to clients.
Academic
"The study highlights the ethics of care in nursing." Refers to a theoretical framework or principle.
Everyday
"Drive carefully!", "I don't care for olives." Common in warnings and preferences.
Technical
"Post-operative care requires monitoring vital signs." Specific, procedural meaning in medicine.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I don't care for his taste in music.
- Who will care for the dog while we're on holiday?
American English
- I don't care for his attitude.
- The nurse cared for the patient all night.
adverb
British English
- He stepped carefully over the puddle.
- She arranged the flowers carefully.
American English
- He drove careful down the icy road. (informal)
- Handle that antique carefully.
adjective
British English
- Be careful crossing the road.
- He was careless with the details.
American English
- Drive careful! (informal, though 'carefully' is standard)
- She is a very caring person.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I care about my family.
- Take care of your new toy.
- Be careful!
- She doesn't care what people think of her clothes.
- The hospital provides excellent care.
- Handle this package with care.
- The government's policy on social care is under review.
- He couldn't care less about the exam results.
- The scheme is designed to care for the elderly in their own homes.
- The ethics of care presents a challenge to traditional justice-based moral frameworks.
- Her ostensibly caring manner belied a ruthless ambition.
- Palliative care requires a multidisciplinary approach.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CAR that needs a lot of carE (attention) to run smoothly.
Conceptual Metaphor
ATTENTION/LOVE IS NOURISHMENT (feed, nurse, care for); RESPONSIBILITY IS A BURDEN (take care of, shoulder the care).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse 'care' with 'career' (карьера).
- Russian 'заботиться' covers 'care for' and 'care about', but 'не волноваться' is better for 'not to care' in the 'not minding' sense.
- Avoid overusing 'care' for Russian 'уход', which is often better translated as 'looking after' or 'maintenance'.
Common Mistakes
- *I care my health. (Correct: I care about my health.)
- *She is in the care of her aunt. (Correct, but learners often incorrectly use 'under the care'.)
- Confusing 'care about' (be interested/worried) with 'care for' (like, look after).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase means 'to like'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. However, it can be countable in the sense of 'a worry' (e.g., 'the cares of the world') or in specific professional contexts (e.g., 'a skin care').
'Care about' expresses concern or interest. 'Care for' can mean 1) to like (often in questions/negatives: 'I don't care for jazz'), or 2) to look after/provide for someone ('She cares for her elderly mother').
In formal English, 'I couldn't care less' (meaning I have no concern at all) is the standard idiom. 'I could care less' is an informal, primarily American, variant with the same intended meaning, but it is considered illogical by purists.
The standard adverb is 'carefully'. However, in informal speech, especially in some dialects of American English, 'careful' is sometimes used as a flat adverb (e.g., 'Drive careful!'). In writing and formal contexts, always use 'carefully'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Health and Body
A2 · 48 words · Talking about health, illness and medical care.