care
care — verb
1. to feel that someone or something matters to you, so that you take an interest i
to feel that someone or something matters to you, so that you take an interest in their wellbeing or feel concerned about what happens to them.
Adina only cares about football and never talks about anything else.
care about + noun (object of interest)
The team leader showed she truly cared by asking about everyone's weekend.
care (intransitive) showing concern through actions
Does the government really care what happens to young people in rural areas?
care + question word (what happens)
Baraka cares deeply about the environment and cycles to work every day.
care + adverb + about
Lien used to care what others thought, but now she just does what makes her happy.
- care deeply
- care passionately
- care about
- truly care
- really care
- mind
used in questions and negatives; 'Do you mind?' focuses on being bothered rather than interested
- be concerned about
more formal; suggests worry rather than general interest
- give a damn
very informal; strong emotional investment, almost always in negative statements
Grammar Patterns
care about + noun/gerund
care + question word (what/whether/how)
Usage Note
In affirmative sentences, this sense usually takes a modifier like 'deeply', 'truly', or 'a lot'. The bare phrase 'I care' on its own can sound vague or poetic without additional context.
Common Mistakes
2. to say in a blunt or impolite way that a person or thing does not matter to you
to say in a blunt or impolite way that a person or thing does not matter to you at all and you refuse to be concerned about them.
"Your brother is crying in his room," Madison said. "I don't care — he started the fight."
fixed dismissive phrase: I don't care
Kabir told his landlord he did not care about the noise complaint and refused to stop drumming.
don't care about + noun (target of dismissal)
The manager made it clear she did not care that five staff had resigned that month.
don't care + that-clause
"She is not coming to your party," Kasia said. "I do not care whether she shows up or not."
- don't care
- didn't care
- doesn't care
- could not care less
stronger and more emphatic than 'don't care'
- not give a damn
very informal and can be offensive
Grammar Patterns
do not care about + noun/gerund
do not care + that-clause
do not care + question word
Usage Note
Always used in negative form ('don't care', 'doesn't care', 'didn't care'). The affirmative 'I care' in this rude sense is not used — the dismissive force comes entirely from the negation.
Common Mistakes
3. to express that another person's choices or activities are none of your concern
to express that another person's choices or activities are none of your concern and you are not bothered by what they do.
Xiu shrugged and said she did not care what her roommate did after midnight.
don't care what + clause (another's actions)
If Karim wants to drop out of college, his parents say they do not care what he decides.
don't care what + clause (life choices)
"Do whatever you like — I honestly do not care what you decide," Maeve told her brother.
The boss did not care how the team finished the report, only that it was done.
don't care how + clause (method dismissed)
- don't care what
- don't care how
- don't care whether
- not mind
less dismissive and more neutral; 'I don't mind what you do' is calmer than 'I don't care'
Grammar Patterns
do not care + question word (what/how/whether) + clause
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 2 (RUDE DISMISSAL): sense 2 targets a person or thing directly ('I don't care about him'), while this sense targets the specific actions or choices of another person ('I don't care what he does').
4. to indicate that something which already took place or was said does not affect
to indicate that something which already took place or was said does not affect you and you have no interest in discussing it further.
Anjali said she did not care what happened at last week's meeting because she was leaving the company.
don't care what happened (past event dismissed)
"I do not care who spread that rumour about me," Antonia told her friends with a wave of her hand.
don't care who + past action (speech dismissed)
"I do not care what the critics wrote about my novel," the author said with a shrug.
The customer did not care how the error had occurred; he just wanted a full refund.
don't care how + past event (cause dismissed)
- don't care what happened
- don't care who
- don't care about the past
- be past caring
suggests the person cared before but has stopped; 'I'm past caring what she said'
Grammar Patterns
do not care + question word (what/who/how) + clause (referring to past)
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 3 (OTHERS' ACTIONS): sense 3 looks forward to what someone might do, while this sense looks backward at what has already happened or been said. The clause often uses past tense.
5. to dismiss a matter as having so little value or significance that it is not eve
to dismiss a matter as having so little value or significance that it is not even worth your attention or concern.
"I could not care less about which phone brand you prefer," Vikram said with a yawn.
could not care less + about (emphatic dismissal)
Antonia told her classmates she could not care less who won the student election.
could not care less + question word
"Who cares what colour we paint the living room? We need to fix the leaky roof first," said the homeowner.
The teenager told his parents he could not care less about the curfew and would come home when he wanted.
could not care less + about (defying rules)
- could not care less
- who cares
- not care at all
- could not care less
the strongest common expression of dismissal; implies zero caring
- not give a hoot
informal, slightly humorous dismissal
Grammar Patterns
could not care less + about/question word
who cares (rhetorical question)
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 2 (RUDE DISMISSAL): sense 2 rejects a person or thing with blunt hostility, while this sense reduces the matter to something trivial — the tone is more of contemptuous indifference than active rudeness. 'Could not care less' and the rhetorical 'Who cares?' are the most common structures.
Common Mistakes
6. to politely ask someone if they would like something or if they wish to do somet
to politely ask someone if they would like something or if they wish to do something, used especially in formal situations and service contexts.
Would you care to join us for dinner next Saturday, Professor Otis?
would you care + to-infinitive (polite invitation)
If you would care to follow me, I will show you to your table.
if you would care + to-infinitive (offering service)
The waiter asked if the guests would care for some wine before the main course.
would care for + noun (offering a choice)
Would anyone here care to share their thoughts on the new office layout?
- would you care
- would care for
- would care to
- would like
more common and neutral; 'Would you like some tea?' covers the same polite offer
- want
more direct and less formal; 'Do you want to come?' is not as polite
Grammar Patterns
would you care + to-infinitive
if you would care + to-infinitive
would you care for + noun
Usage Note
Almost always appears in the conditional form 'would care' (not 'do care'). This sense is more common in British English than American English. In casual conversation, 'Would you like…?' or 'Do you want…?' replaces it.
Common Mistakes
care — noun
1. the work of looking after someone's health, safety, and general well-being, espe
the work of looking after someone's health, safety, and general well-being, especially for people who cannot fully manage on their own.
Soraya took her grandfather to the clinic for medical care after his fall.
collocation: medical care / health care
The nursing home provides round-the-clock care for elderly residents who live alone.
Parents are responsible for the care of their young children until they grow up.
collocation: care of [someone]
A mobile dental van offers free care to people who cannot easily reach a dentist.
The hospital expanded its intensive care unit after the winter flu outbreak.
collocation: intensive care / intensive care unit
- medical care
- health care
- intensive care
- day care
- care of
- in care
- take care of
- attendance
formal, used mainly of medical or official service
- tending
more physical, often used for plants or animals
- supervision
focuses on watching over, not providing direct help
- neglect
failure to look after someone properly
Usage Note
Often combined with a preceding noun or adjective that specifies the type of need — medical care, dental care, child care, intensive care, etc.
Common Mistakes
2. used as the second part of a compound noun to name a service that looks after pe
used as the second part of a compound noun to name a service that looks after people's health, children, teeth, skin, or other needs.
The government spent more on healthcare last year than on road building.
compound: healthcare
Reuben found a well-run childcare centre close to the train station.
compound: childcare
Many older people now rely on homecare services to stay in their own houses.
compound: homecare
The rising cost of elder care is a concern for families across the country.
compound: elder care
3. the quality of paying attention to what you are doing in order to avoid damage,
the quality of paying attention to what you are doing in order to avoid damage, injury, or mistakes — for example, handling a glass object with care, or taking care when crossing a street.
The box was marked "Fragile — handle with care" in large red letters.
phrase: handle with care
Felix painted the window frames with great care so the paint would not drip.
pattern: with [adjective] care
Mauricio took extra care when he carried the heavy tray across the room.
collocation: take care
Always use care when you cut vegetables with a sharp kitchen knife.
A little extra care while driving in the rain can prevent a serious accident.
- with care
- handle with care
- take care
- use care
- extra care
- great care
- caution
slightly more formal; often used in warnings
- attention
broader; can refer to mental focus in any context
- carefulness
less common but direct synonym
- carelessness
lack of attention leading to mistakes
Usage Note
Frequently appears in the fixed phrases take care (to do something) and with care. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 3 is about avoiding harm in a specific action, while sense 1 is about ongoing provision of someone's needs.
Common Mistakes
4. a situation in which a child is looked after by adults who are not their birth p
a situation in which a child is looked after by adults who are not their birth parents, arranged by a government or official social service.
Sivan and her husband decided to take two young siblings into care after the tragedy.
phrase: take someone into care
The children were put into care when their parents became too ill.
phrase: put into care
Social workers found a home for the baby after six months in foster care.
collocation: foster care
Darius grew up in care but still visited his biological grandmother every holiday.
phrase: in care
- in care
- into care
- foster care
- taken into care
- put into care
- foster care
the most common specific term
- local authority care
formal British term
Usage Note
Commonly used in the fixed phrases in care, take into care, and put into care. This sense does not take an article: children in care (not in the care).
Common Mistakes
5. an approach that lets people with mental health conditions or learning disabilit
an approach that lets people with mental health conditions or learning disabilities receive medical and daily support at home, instead of staying in hospital for long periods.
After ten years in hospital, Ari went home under a community care plan.
collocation: community care plan
Nurses visit patients at home each week as part of care in the community.
phrase: care in the community
Many people with mild learning difficulties benefit from living independently with community care support.
The council runs a community care scheme for older adults who need daily help at home.
collocation: community care scheme
- community care
- care in the community
- community care plan
- community care scheme
- domiciliary care
formal term for home-based care
- home care
broader; not specific to mental health
- institutional care
care provided in a hospital or residential facility
Usage Note
Chiefly British English. Care in the community is a specific policy term in the UK referring to deinstitutionalisation of mental health patients.
6. steady focus on every part of a task so that the work is done correctly and has
steady focus on every part of a task so that the work is done correctly and has good quality.
Hannah proofread the report with great care to catch every spelling mistake.
pattern: with [adjective] care + infinitive purpose
Tamás listened with care to the instructions before starting the exam.
A good photographer takes care with lighting and composition in every shot.
collocation: take care with [something]
The accountant checked the numbers with extreme care to ensure nothing was wrong.
Sofie arranged the flowers on the table with such care that each stem looked perfect.
pattern: with such care + result clause
- with care
- great care
- extreme care
- take care with
- pay care to
- thoroughness
focuses on covering all parts of a task
- diligence
suggests steady, earnest effort over time
- attention to detail
common phrase; more explicit about specifics
- negligence
formal; failure to give proper attention
- sloppiness
informal; careless, untidy work
7. the practice of being careful to avoid mistakes, damage, or danger while doing s
the practice of being careful to avoid mistakes, damage, or danger while doing something.
Min handled the old ceramic bowl with great care, afraid it might crack.
collocation: with care / with great care
Pedro told his daughter to take care when crossing the busy road near their school.
collocation: take care when + [action]
Sari packed the glass ornaments with extra care after the previous shipment was damaged.
A little more care when you type would prevent most of these spelling errors.
- with care
- take care
- great care
- extra care
- extreme care
- handle with care
- caution
more formal; focuses on avoiding danger rather than mistakes
- attentiveness
more formal; emphasises focused observation
- circumspection
very formal; used in legal or formal writing
- carelessness
opposite quality; doing things without attention
- negligence
more formal; failing to take proper care
Grammar Patterns
care + noun (with care / take care)
Usage Note
This sense is uncountable and often appears in the fixed phrases 'with care', 'take care', and 'handle with care'.
Common Mistakes
8. the act of handling a task, problem, or responsibility that needs attention or a
the act of handling a task, problem, or responsibility that needs attention or action.
Ryan said he would take care of booking the train tickets for their trip.
phrasal pattern: take care of + [task]
The manager asked a cleaner to take care of the mess after the office party.
Ife left the application forms for Talia to take care of while she was away.
Taking care of customer complaints is part of Asher's daily routine at the hotel.
gerund subject: taking care of + [issue]
- take care of
- leave in someone's care
- neglect
to fail to deal with something
Grammar Patterns
take care of + noun
Usage Note
This sense is almost always used in the fixed phrase 'take care of'. The object is typically a task, problem, bill, arrangement, or responsibility — not a person or animal.
Common Mistakes
9. the state of being anxious or troubled about something that could go wrong; or a
the state of being anxious or troubled about something that could go wrong; or a specific problem that creates this kind of unease.
Shirin tried to hide the care in her voice while asking about the exam results.
uncountable: care as a feeling of worry
The old farmer's face was deeply lined with care after many years of hard work.
Caio shared his financial cares with a trusted friend who offered to help.
countable: cares as specific worries
Anthony spoke to a counsellor about the cares that had been troubling him for months.
- free from care
- without a care
- cares of the world
- weighed down with care
- lined with care
- peace of mind
opposite state; freedom from worry
- contentment
general satisfaction without troubling thoughts
Usage Note
This is a more formal or literary synonym for 'worry' or 'anxiety'. Uncountable use ('care' as a general feeling) is less common than countable use ('cares' as specific problems). Frequently appears in fixed expressions such as 'without a care in the world'.
Common Mistakes
care of somebody
idiomThis phrase is used in an address to show that a letter or package should be delivered to someone at another person's address.
Please send the package to me care of my aunt.
Did you mail the letter care of his office?
This phrase means that someone or something is being looked after by a particular person.
The children were left in the care of their grandmother.
My plants are in Sara's care while I'm on vacation.
take care
idiomThis phrase is used as a friendly way of saying goodbye to someone.
Take care, and see you next week!
She said "Take care" before hanging up the phone.
This phrase means to be careful or to make sure that something is done correctly or safely.
Take care to lock the door before you leave.
He took care that all the lights were turned off.
This phrase means to look after someone or something, or to be responsible for them.
Maya takes care of her younger brother after school.
You should take care of your health by eating well.
This phrase means that someone is receiving medical treatment or supervision from a particular doctor or medical team.
The patient is under the care of Dr. Lee.
Refugees under the care of the Red Cross received food and shelter.