Meanings
care1
plural cares
- countableuncountableClose attention; concern; responsibility.
Care should be taken when holding babies.
2 more examples
I thank thee for thy care and honest pains.
1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]‘Have a care, Buquet—ghosts like not to be seen or talked about!’
1925, Walter Anthony and Tom Reed (titles), Rupert Julian (director), The Phantom of the Opera, silent movie - countableuncountableWorry.
I don’t have a care in the world.
1 more example
Yes, heaven, I’m in heaven / And the cares that hung around me through the week / Seem to vanish like a gambler’s lucky streak
1956, Irving Berlin, “Cheek to Cheek” - uncountableMaintenance, upkeep.
dental care
1 more example
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Corinthians 11:28 - uncountableThe treatment of those in need (especially as a profession).
The US supreme court has ruled unanimously that natural human genes cannot be patented, a decision that scientists and civil rights campaigners said removed a major barrier to patient care and medical innovation.
2013 June 21, Karen McVeigh, “US rules human genes can't be patented”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 10 - UKuncountableThe state of being cared for by others.
in care
- countableuncountableThe object of watchful attention or anxiety.
Right sorrowfully mourning her bereaved cares.
1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 17 - countableobsoleteuncountableGrief, sorrow.
Sleep, that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care.
c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]2 more examples
More health and happiness betide my liege / Than can my care-tuned tongue deliver him!
1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]One day, among the days, he bethought him of this and fell lamenting for that the most part of his existence was past and he had not been vouchsafed a son, to inherit the kingdom after him, even as he had inherited it from his fathers and forebears; by reason whereof there betided him sore cark and care and chagrin exceeding.
1885, Richard F[rancis] Burton, transl. and editor, “Julnar the Sea-Born and Her Son King Badr Basim of Persia”, in A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, now Entituled The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night […], Shammar edition, volume VII, [London]: […] Burton Club […], →OCLC, page 265
care2
present singular third person cares · participle present caring · participle past cared · past cared · first person past singular cared · archaic present second person singular carest · past second person singular cared · archaic past second person singular caredst · present singular third person cares · archaic present singular third person careth · past singular third person cared · past plural cared · past subjunctive cared · participle present caring · participle past cared
- intransitivetransitiveTo be concerned (about), to have an interest (in); to feel concern (about).
She doesn’t care what you think.
5 more examples
I don’t care, I’m still going.
[…] What cares these roarers [i.e. thunder] for the name of king?[…]
1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]And no use for anyone to tell Charles that this was because the Family was in mourning for Mr Granville Darracott […]: Charles might only have been second footman at Darracott Place for a couple of months when that disaster occurred, but no one could gammon him into thinking that my lord cared a spangle for his heir.
1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown AjaxThis newfound infatuation renders Bart uncharacteristically vulnerable. He suddenly has something to care about beyond causing trouble and makes a dramatic transformation from hell-raiser to gentleman about town.
2012 May 27, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block” (season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992)”, in The Onion AV ClubNo longer mind if I go / You pray enough, I might fall / Down, down, down, down, down / Why should I care what happens to me? / Why should I care what happens to me?
2019, Aries, “Amy's Grave”, in Welcome Home - formalintransitivepoliteTo want, to desire; to like; to be inclined towards or interested in.
Would you care to dance?
2 more examples
Would you care for another slice of cake?
I don’t care to hear your opinion.
- broadlyinformalintransitiveTo be affected by, to treat as relevant for a subsequent course of action.
An event aggregator facilitates a fire-and-forget model of communication. The object triggering the event doesn’t care if there are any subscribers. It just fires the event and moves on.
2013, Addy Osmani, Developing Backbone.js Applications, page 175 - intransitive(with for) To look after or look out for.
Young children can learn to care for a pet.
1 more example
He cared for his mother while she was sick.
- AppalachiaintransitiveTo mind; to object.
1 more example
After introducing herself, the therapist then asked the patient if it would be all right to do the exercises which the doctor had ordered for her. The patient would response, "Well, I don't care to." For several days, the therapist immediately left the room and officially recorded that the patient had "refused" therapy. […] It was not until months later that this therapist […] discovered that she should have been interpreting "I don't care to" as "I don't mind" doing those exercises now.
2006, Grace Toney Edwards, JoAnn Aust Asbury, Ricky L. Cox, A Handbook to Appalachia: An Introduction to the Region, Univ. of Tennessee Press, →ISBN, page 108
Care3
Synonyms & antonyms
nounthe work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
nounattention and management implying responsibility for safety
nounactivity involved in maintaining something in good working order
verbto hope, to desire or to prefer to have something, or to do something
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
care · noun
- Proto-Indo-European*ǵeh₂r-
- Proto-Germanic*karō
- Proto-West Germanic*karu
- Old Englishcaru
- Middle Englishcare
- Englishcare
From Middle English care, from Old English caru, ċearu (“care, concern, anxiety, sorrow, grief, trouble”), from Proto-West Germanic *karu, from Proto-Germanic *karō (“care, sorrow, cry”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵeh₂r- (“shout, call”). Cognate with Old Saxon cara, kara (“concern, action”), Middle High German kar (“sorrow, lamentation”), Icelandic kör (“sickbed”), Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐍂𐌰 (kara, “concern, care”). Related also to Dutch karig (“scanty”), German karg (“sparse, meagre, barren”), Latin garriō, Ancient Greek γῆρυς (gêrus). See also chary.
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic
Full word history & related roots →care · verb
- Proto-Germanic*karōną“to care”
- Proto-West Germanic*karōn“to care”
- Old Englishcarian“to sorrow, grieve, be troubled, be anxious, to care for, heed”
- Middle Englishcaren
- Englishcare
From Middle English caren, carien, from Old English carian (“to sorrow, grieve, be troubled, be anxious, to care for, heed”), from Proto-West Germanic *karōn (“to care”), from Proto-Germanic *karōną (“to care”). Cognate with Old Saxon karōn (“to lament”), Middle High German karen, karn (“to complain, lament, grieve, mourn”), archaic German karen (“to groan, gasp”), Alemannic German karen, kären (“to groan, gasp”), Swedish kära (“to fall in love”), Icelandic kæra (“to care, like”), Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐍂𐍉𐌽 (karōn, “to be concerned”).
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek ἐπιμέλεια, μέριμνα
- ἐπιμέλεια (epiméleia)close attention, concern or responsibility
- μέριμνα (mérimna)worry
- ἐπιμέλεια (epiméleia)maintenance, upkeep — see also maintenance
- ἐπιμέλια (epimélia)treatment of those in need
- φροντίζω (phrontízō)to be concerned about
Arabic اِهْتِمَام, عِنَايَة
- اِهْتِمَام (ihtimām)close attention, concern or responsibility
- عِنَايَة (ʕināya)treatment of those in need
- رِعَايَة (riʕāya)treatment of those in need
- اِهْتَمَّ بِـ (ihtamma bi-)to be concerned about
- اِهْتَمَّ بِـ (ihtamma bi-)to look after
Bengali পরোয়া, এহতেমাম
- পরোয়া (porōẇa)close attention, concern or responsibility
- এহতেমাম (ehtemam)close attention, concern or responsibility
- চিন্তা (cinta)worry
- যত্ন (jotno)maintenance, upkeep — see also maintenance
- সেবা (śeba)treatment of those in need
Bulgarian грижа, отговорност
- грижа (griža)close attention, concern or responsibility
- отговорност (otgovornost)close attention, concern or responsibility
- грижи (griži)treatment of those in need
- интересувам се (interesuvam se)to be concerned about
- обичам (običam)to want, politely
- грижа се (griža se)to look after
- грижа се (griža se)to be mindful of
- безпокоя се (bezpokoja se)to be mindful of
Catalan cura, compte
- curaclose attention, concern or responsibility
- compteclose attention, concern or responsibility
- preocupar-seto be concerned about
- tenir curato look after
Chinese Mandarin 關懷 /关怀, 擔心 /担心
- 關懷 /关怀 (guānhuái)close attention, concern or responsibility
- 擔心 /担心 (dānxīn)worry
- 關照 /关照 (guānzhào)treatment of those in need
- 關心 /关心 (guānxīn)to be concerned about
- 小心 (xiǎoxīn)to be concerned about
- 關照 /关照 (guānzhào)to look after
- 照顧 /照顾 (zhàogu)to look after
Czech péče, péče
- péčeclose attention, concern or responsibility
- péčetreatment of those in need
- starat seto be concerned about
- staratto be concerned about
- pečovatto look after
- starat seto look after
Danish forsigtighed, omtanke
- forsigtighedclose attention, concern or responsibility
- omtankeclose attention, concern or responsibility
- omsorgclose attention, concern or responsibility
- bekymringworry
- vedligeholdmaintenance, upkeep — see also maintenance
- omsorgtreatment of those in need
- plejetreatment of those in need
- plejestate of being cared for
Dutch zorg, geven
- zorgclose attention, concern or responsibility
- gevento be concerned about
Esperanto zorgo, atento
- zorgoclose attention, concern or responsibility
- atentoclose attention, concern or responsibility
- zorgoworry
- flegadotreatment of those in need
- zorgito be concerned about
Estonian huvitama, hoolima
- huvitamato be concerned about
- hoolimato be concerned about
- hoolimato look after
Finnish huolellisuus, varovaisuus
- huolellisuusclose attention, concern or responsibility
- varovaisuusclose attention, concern or responsibility
- huoliworry
- hoitomaintenance, upkeep — see also maintenance
- hoitotreatment of those in need
- hoivatreatment of those in need
- hoitotyötreatment of those in need
- hoivatyötreatment of those in need
- hoitoalatreatment of those in need
- hoiva-alatreatment of those in need
- huostastate of being cared for
- hoivastate of being cared for
- välittääto be concerned about
- piitatato be concerned about
- tahtoato want, politely
- halutato want, politely
- maistuato want, politely
- hoitaato look after
- huolehtiato look after
- välittääto be mindful of
French souci, soin
- souciclose attention, concern or responsibility
- soinclose attention, concern or responsibility
- souciworry
- sointreatment of those in need
- se soucierto be concerned about
- s'intéresserto be concerned about
- soignerto look after
German Sorge, Pflege
- Sorgeclose attention, concern or responsibility
- Pflegetreatment of those in need
- Pflegestate of being cared for
- sorgento be concerned about
- sich sorgento be concerned about
- sich kümmernto be concerned about
- respektierento want, politely
- kümmernto look after
- pflegento look after
- kümmernto be mindful of
Greek έγνοια, νοιάζει
- έγνοια (égnoia)close attention, concern or responsibility
- νοιάζει (noiázei)to be concerned about
- φροντίζω (frontízo)to look after
- νοιάζομαι (noiázomai)to be mindful of
Hawaiian mālama
- mālamato look after
Hindi परवाह, देखभाल
- परवाह (parvāh)close attention, concern or responsibility
- देखभाल (dekhbhāl)treatment of those in need
Hungarian figyelem, óvatosság
- figyelemclose attention, concern or responsibility
- óvatosságclose attention, concern or responsibility
- törődéstreatment of those in need
- ápolástreatment of those in need
- foglalkozikto be concerned about
- érdekelto be concerned about
- kérto want, politely
- kívánto want, politely
- van kedveto want, politely
- törődikto look after
- foglalkozikto look after
- gondoskodikto look after
Icelandic sama
- samato be concerned about
Indonesian perawatan, asuhan
- perawatantreatment of those in need
- asuhantreatment of those in need
- perawatanstate of being cared for
- pedulito be concerned about
Irish aire, sníomh
- aireclose attention, concern or responsibility
- sníomhworry
- cúramtreatment of those in need
- cúraimítreatment of those in need
- is miste doto be concerned about
Italian cura, attenzione
- curaclose attention, concern or responsibility
- attenzioneclose attention, concern or responsibility
- interessarsito be concerned about
- curareto look after
Japanese 気にする, 気にかける
- 気にする (ki ni suru)close attention, concern or responsibility
- 気にかける (ki ni kakeru)close attention, concern or responsibility
- 構う (kamau)to be concerned about
- 気にする (ki-ni suru)to be concerned about
- 気にかける (ki-ni kakeru)to be concerned about
- 世話をする (sewa-o suru)to look after
- 面倒を見る (mendō-o miru)to look after
- 介抱する (kaihou suru)to look after
Korean 상관하다, 걱정하다
- 상관하다 (sanggwanhada)to be concerned about
- 걱정하다 (geokjeonghada)to be concerned about
- 보살피다 (bosalpida)to look after
- 돌보다 (dolboda)to look after
Latin cura, cura
- curaclose attention, concern or responsibility
- curaworry
- cūratreatment of those in need
- cūrātūratreatment of those in need
- cūrātiōtreatment of those in need
- cūrastate of being cared for
- cūrātūrastate of being cared for
- cūrātiōstate of being cared for
- cūrōto be concerned about
- pertineorto be concerned about
- curoto look after
- tueorto look after
Latvian rūpe, gādība
- rūpeclose attention, concern or responsibility
- gādībaclose attention, concern or responsibility
- gādīgumsclose attention, concern or responsibility
- rūpībaclose attention, concern or responsibility
- rūpīgumsclose attention, concern or responsibility
- rūpeworry
Lithuanian sau rūpėti, rūpintis
- sau rūpėtito be concerned about
- rūpintisto look after
Malay rawatan, rawatan
- rawatantreatment of those in need
- rawatanstate of being cared for
- pedulito be concerned about
- menjagato look after
Māori tautiakanga, tautiakitanga
- tautiakangaclose attention, concern or responsibility
- tautiakitangaclose attention, concern or responsibility
Norwegian nennsomhet
- nennsomhetworry
Norwegian Bokmål forsiktighet, pleie
- forsiktighetclose attention, concern or responsibility
- pleietreatment of those in need
- omsorgtreatment of those in need
Polish troska, opieka
- troskaclose attention, concern or responsibility
- opiekatreatment of those in need
- martwić sięto be concerned about
- opiekować sięto look after
- troszczyć sięto look after
- dbaćto look after
- obchodzićto be mindful of
- troszczyć sięto be mindful of
Portuguese cuidado, manutenção
- cuidadoclose attention, concern or responsibility
- manutençãomaintenance, upkeep — see also maintenance
- atendimentotreatment of those in need
- assistênciatreatment of those in need
- tratamentotreatment of those in need
- preocupar-seto be concerned about
- importar-seto be concerned about
- ligarto be concerned about
- gostarto want, politely
- cuidarto look after
Romanian grijă, păs
- grijăclose attention, concern or responsibility
- păsclose attention, concern or responsibility
- îngrijito look after
Russian забо́та, беспоко́йство
- забо́та (zabóta)close attention, concern or responsibility
- беспоко́йство (bespokójstvo)worry
- забо́та (zabóta)worry
- трево́га (trevóga)worry
- хло́поты (xlópoty)worry
- ухо́д (uxód)maintenance, upkeep — see also maintenance
- забо́та (zabóta)treatment of those in need
- ухо́д (uxód)treatment of those in need
- попече́ние (popečénije)treatment of those in need
- опе́ка (opéka)treatment of those in need
- хло́поты (xlópoty)treatment of those in need
- попече́ние (popečénije)state of being cared for
- беспоко́иться (bespokóitʹsja)to be concerned about
- забо́титься (zabótitʹsja)to be concerned about
- забо́титься (zabótitʹsja)to look after
- уха́живать (uxáživatʹ)to look after
- пригля́дывать (prigljádyvatʹ)to look after
- пригляде́ть (prigljadétʹ)to look after
- присма́тривать (prismátrivatʹ)to look after
- присмотре́ть (prismotrétʹ)to look after
Scottish Gaelic aire, suim
- aireclose attention, concern or responsibility
- suimclose attention, concern or responsibility
Slovak opatrnosť, starostlivosť
- opatrnosťclose attention, concern or responsibility
- starostlivosťmaintenance, upkeep — see also maintenance
- starostlivosťtreatment of those in need
- starostlivosťstate of being cared for
- zaujímaťto be concerned about
- starať sato look after
Spanish cuidado, esmero
- cuidadoclose attention, concern or responsibility
- esmeroclose attention, concern or responsibility
- primorclose attention, concern or responsibility
- importarto be concerned about
- interesarto be concerned about
- gustarto want, politely
- cuidarto look after
Swedish omtanke, omsorg
- omtankeclose attention, concern or responsibility
- omsorgclose attention, concern or responsibility
- vårdclose attention, concern or responsibility
- bekymmerworry
- underhållmaintenance, upkeep — see also maintenance
- vårdtreatment of those in need
- omsorgtreatment of those in need
- vårdstate of being cared for
- bry sigto be concerned about
- ta hand omto look after
- bry (sig om)to be mindful of
Tagalog pakialam, pag-iingat
- pakialamclose attention, concern or responsibility
- pag-iingattreatment of those in need
Tamil அக்கறை
- அக்கறை (akkaṟai)close attention, concern or responsibility
Thai สน, สนใจ
- สน (sǒn)to be concerned about
- สนใจ (sǒn-jai)to be concerned about
- สนใจ (sǒn-jai)to want, politely
- ดูแล (duu-lɛɛ)to look after
- เอาใจใส่ (ao-jai-sài)to look after
- ใส่ใจ (sài-jai)to be mindful of
- สนใจ (sǒn-jai)to be mindful of
Turkish dikkat, özen
- dikkatclose attention, concern or responsibility
- özenclose attention, concern or responsibility
- kaygıworry
- tasaworry
- bakımmaintenance, upkeep — see also maintenance
- tedavitreatment of those in need
- tımartreatment of those in need
- umrunda olmakto be concerned about
- umursamakto be concerned about
- bakmakto look after
- ilgilenmekto look after
Ukrainian турбо́та, турбо́та
- турбо́та (turbóta)close attention, concern or responsibility
- турбо́та (turbóta)worry
- неспокі́й (nespokíj)worry
- турбо́та (turbóta)treatment of those in need
- до́гляд (dóhljad)treatment of those in need
- турбува́тися (turbuvátysja)to be concerned about
- догляда́ти (dohljadáty)to be concerned about
- турбува́тися (turbuvátysja)to look after
- догляда́ти (dohljadáty)to look after
- дба́ти (dbáty)to look after
Vietnamese quan tâm, quan tâm
- quan tâmworry
- quan tâmto be concerned about
- quan tâmto look after
- chăm sócto look after
Zulu ukukhatazeka
- ukukhatazekaworry
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with care
Sounds the same
Anagrams
Cite this entry
care. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/care
“care.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/care. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “care,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/care.
Source: care on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.