care
noun (uncountable)
UK/keə(r)/US/ker/
The provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something; also, serious attention or consideration applied to avoid damage, risk, or error.
Example Sentences
With proper care, these plants can flourish throughout the entire season.
The children were left in the care of their grandmother while their parents traveled.
A little extra care can prevent accidents in the kitchen.
He handled the antique vase with great care to avoid breaking it.
Hospitals have a duty of care toward all their patients.
She showed care in every aspect of her work, ensuring every detail was perfect.
After being rescued, the injured puppy was placed under specialized veterinary care, where it gradually healed and regained its playful spirit.
In many professions, attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to patient or client care serve as the foundation of trust and success.
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verb (intransitive)
UK/keə(r)/US/ker/
To look after and provide for the needs of someone or something; to feel concern or interest; to mind whether something happens or not; to have a preference, liking, or desire for something.
Example Sentences
I really care about your well-being.
They care deeply for the environment and volunteer to plant trees every year.
He said he doesn’t care whether we go or stay.
If you care about something, you’ll do your best to protect it.
She works long hours because she cares about each of her patients.
He claims not to care, but his actions suggest otherwise.
As a community, we must learn to care for those who are vulnerable, offering help and compassion in times of need so that nobody falls through the cracks.
Sometimes it’s challenging to show how much we care for others, but small acts of kindness and genuine concern can make a lasting difference in someone’s life.
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How to Use
An action or mindset devoted to safeguarding and supporting others’ needs or interests.This term generally represents a sense of responsibility or mindfulness toward the well-being of oneself or others. You might use it when speaking about emotional, physical, or medical support, as in “She takes great care of her family” or “Proper care helps keep the patient comfortable.” It can also be a noun, describing the attention or treatment provided, for example, “With enough care, the plant will flourish.” In everyday writing and conversation, you can use it to convey warmth and attentiveness: “Handle this fragile item with care.” Additionally, expressions like “take care” serve as a gentle farewell, implying concern for someone’s well-being—“Take care, and drive safely.” When discussing professional contexts—like healthcare or childcare—“care” broadens to include structured services, regulations, and ethical obligations: “Quality elder care depends on skilled professionals and empathetic support.” Recognizing whether you’re referring to personal empathy, a formal service, or a general sense of prudence will help you use this term with precision and clarity, ensuring your message resonates with the right degree of kindness and responsibility.
Alternatives
If you find yourself relying too heavily on this word, consider alternatives that capture related nuances. “Concern” works well when emphasizing empathetic or worried feelings—“She showed genuine concern for her friend’s troubles.” “Attend to” or “look after” focuses on practical, hands-on actions, whether you’re describing a parent’s responsibility or a caretaker’s routine tasks. “Safeguard” highlights the protective element of looking out for someone or something’s welfare, often used when talking about valuable objects or vulnerable individuals, such as “They safeguarded important documents in a secure vault.” Meanwhile, “tend,” “foster,” or “nurture” spotlight the nurturing aspect, particularly in contexts involving personal growth or emotional support, like “He nurtured her talent for music.” In professional or formal scenarios, you might lean on “support” or “attend,” as in “They attend to all patient needs promptly.” By choosing words with slightly different nuances, you bring variety and specificity to your speech and writing, tailoring your language to the level of practical attention, emotional investment, or protection you wish to highlight.
Writing
When writing, you can use this term to add emotional depth or highlight responsibility and consideration. It can convey tenderness in a literary piece, for instance, “She wrapped the newborn in a warm blanket with gentle care,” painting a vivid picture of nurturing. If you’re crafting instructions, like in a manual or guide, phrases such as “Handle these components with care” establish clear expectations for caution. In persuasive or argumentative writing, referencing the concept can invoke compassion or social responsibility: “Providing proper care for the elderly is a moral obligation that reflects a society’s values.” Be mindful that overusing the word can dilute its impact; rotate in synonyms like “concern,” “attention,” or “support” to maintain richness. While the term is simple, it carries significant meaning—balancing empathy, practicality, and protection. Ensure your context clarifies whether you’re describing an action (giving care), an attitude (being caring), or a standard (adequate care). Thus, you can maintain a fluid narrative or argument that resonates on both practical and emotional levels, weaving warmth into informative or persuasive texts without sounding repetitive.
Casual Conversation
In day-to-day conversation, you’ll often hear it in phrases like “Take care,” “Careful there,” or “I don’t care,” each with its own tone and implication. Saying “Take care” when parting from a friend is a friendly, warm sign-off that shows genuine goodwill. Telling someone to “be careful” conveys a protective instinct, like cautioning them about a potential hazard. The phrase “I don’t care” is more informal and can sometimes sound dismissive or aloof, so consider your tone and relationship with the listener when using it. You might also bring it up in casual plans—“Would you care to join us?”—adding polite warmth to your invitation. In relationships, asking “How are you?” or “Is everything okay?” signals you genuinely care about someone’s well-being. These everyday uses revolve around empathy, caution, or courtesy. The key is reading the room: the same word can soothe or dismiss, depending on context and intonation. By staying aware of those nuances, you’ll maintain a supportive, engaging tone that encourages openness and understanding in your casual interactions.
Etymology
The word “care” can be traced back to Old English “caru” or “cearu,” meaning sorrow, anxiety, or serious mental attention. This evolved from Proto-Germanic roots carrying the notion of grieving or being troubled, reflecting how its earliest uses emphasized the burden of worry. Over centuries, the term broadened from the realm of concern or distress to also encompass a constructive, protective dimension—shifting from a purely negative sense of anxiety to a more positive sense of looking after someone or something. This linguistic journey hints at how care initially signified a heavy emotional weight but gradually came to include the nurturing actions we associate with caring today. Indeed, various Germanic languages retain cognates that closely mirror its dual sense of worry and guardianship. Modern English usage balances these facets, with “care” denoting both the emotional investment (whether anxious or gentle) and the practical steps taken to safeguard well-being. It’s a reminder that attentiveness can carry both apprehension and compassion, uniting two fundamental human impulses: concern for what might go wrong, and a heartfelt desire to help.
