Care — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈker/

Meaning & Definition of Care

Care (noun)

  1. suffering of mind, grief
  2. a disquieted state of mixed uncertainty, apprehension, and responsibility; also, something that causes such a state, a particular worry, concern, etc.
  3. a cause for such anxiety

Care (verb)

  1. to feel trouble or anxiety
  2. to feel interest or concern
  3. to give care

Care (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. strict attentiveness to what one is doing

    "reading the report with more care the second time, she detected several errors"

    similar: carefulness, closeness, conscientiousness, heed, heedfulness, meticulosity, meticulousness, pains, scrupulousness
    related: advertence, advertency, attention, concentration, focus, observance, observation, alertness, mindfulness, vigilance, watchfulness, dutifulness, irreproachability, irreproachableness, punctiliousness, responsibility, bother, effort, painstaking, trouble, exactness, particularity, precision
    opposite: heedlessness, inattentiveness, negligence
    near: inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inobservance

  2. attention accompanied by protectiveness and responsibility

    "that's an extremely valuable violin, so handle it with care"

    similar: carefulness, lovingness, solicitousness, solicitude
    related: concern, considerateness, consideration, kindness, thoughtfulness, babying, coddling, pampering
    opposite: carelessness
    near: inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness, unconcern, unkindness

  3. a close attentiveness to avoiding danger

    "take care while crossing the street"

    similar: alertness, carefulness, caution, cautiousness, chariness, circumspection, gingerliness, guardedness, heedfulness, prudence, wariness
    related: attentiveness, observance, vigilance, watchfulness, foresight, foresightedness, providence, calculation, canniness, deliberateness, deliberation, shrewdness
    opposite: brashness, carelessness, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, recklessness, unwariness
    near: abruptness, hastiness, impetuousness, precipitousness, rashness, suddenness, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness

  4. an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble

    "on vacation, without a care in the world"

    similar: agita, agitation, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, concern, concernment, disquiet, disquietude, fear, nervosity, nervousness, perturbation, solicitude, sweat, unease, uneasiness, worry
    related: strain, stress, tension, alarm, anguish, consternation, desperateness, desperation, discomfort, discomposure, dismay, distraction, distress, disturbance, edginess, franticness, hand-wringing, jitters, jumpiness, panic, tremor, angst, fearfulness, torment, upset, vexation, cold feet, doubt, dread, foreboding, incertitude, misgiving, presentiment, suspense, uncertainty, compunction, qualm, scruple
    opposite: unconcern
    near: calm, calmness, content, contentment, ease, easiness, peace, peacefulness, placidity, placidness, quiet, quietude, sereneness, serenity, tranquility, tranquilness, comfort, consolation, relief, solace

  5. responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something

    "while you're under my care, you'll do as you're told"

    similar: custodianship, custody, guardianship, keeping, safekeeping, trust, ward
    related: control, governorship, hand(s), management, superintendence, supervision

  6. the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control

    "you'll have care of the project from its beginning to its completion"

    similar: charge, guidance, headship, oversight, regulation, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision, surveillance
    related: monitoring, observance, observation, observing, policing, administration, control, direction, generalship, hand(s), management, running, leadership, piloting, shepherding, steering, government, reign, rule, aegis, auspices, guardianship, protection, trusteeship, tutelage

  7. the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something

    "she stepped up and took over the care of the bank after her father retired"

    similar: administration, charge, conduct, control, direction, governance, government, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, oversight, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision
    related: generalship, leadership, rulership, agency, aegis, custody, guardianship, keeping, lap, protection, safekeeping, trust, tutelage, ward, engineering, logistics, machination, manipulation, coadministration, codirection, comanagement

Care (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to have an interest or concern for

    "a teacher who cares what happens to her students long after they leave her classroom"

    similar: look out (for), mind, watch
    related: attend, heed, regard, note, notice, observe, empathize (with), feel (for), sympathize (with)
    near: disregard, ignore, overlook

Related Entry: Care (for) (verb)

Care (for) is a different word from Care. The synonyms below are for care (for), not for care.

  1. to take charge of especially on behalf of another

    "will you care for the lawn while we're gone?"

    similar: attend, mind, oversee, superintend, supervise, tend, watch, look after, see after, see to, take care of
    related: administrate, conduct, control, direct, govern, guide, manage, operate, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, guard, patrol, protect, safeguard, shield, baby, babysit, chaperone, mother, shepherd
    near: abandon, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, pass over

  2. to attend to the needs and comforts of

    "he is caring for his mother while she's sick"

    similar: administer (to), minister (to), mother, nurse, do for (chiefly British), look after, look out for, look to, see to, take care of, wait on
    related: cure, heal, remedy, doctor, treat, aid, conserve, preserve, provide (for), support, baby, coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil, cater (to), humor, indulge
    near: brush (aside or off), forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, slight

  3. to have a favorable opinion of

    "I don't really care for what you're doing with that dog"

    similar: accept, approve (of), countenance, favor, OK, subscribe (to), go for, hold with, take kindly to
    related: acclaim, applaud, laud, praise, salute, back (up), concur (in), stand by, support, sustain, uphold, bear, endure, tolerate, assent (to), consent (to), commend, recommend, enjoy, like
    opposite: disapprove (of), discountenance, disfavor, frown (on or upon)
    near: blacklist, censure, condemn, criticize, damn, denounce, deprecate, depreciate, disparage, reprehend, reprobate, dislike, mind, detest, hate, loathe, dissent (from), object (to), oppose

  4. to wish to have

    "I don't particularly care for rice cereal, but I'll eat it"

    similar: like, want, feel like
    related: adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), love, relish, revel (in), welcome, covet, crave, desire, die (for), hanker (for or after), wish (for), yearn (for)

  5. to show partiality toward

    "she generally doesn't care for war movies"

    similar: favor, lean (toward or towards), like, prefer, be partial to, go in for
    related: adore, cotton (to), delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), relish, revel (in), choose, cull, handpick, name, pick, select, single (out), take, covet, crave, desire, hanker (for or after), want, wish (for), bias, prejudice, incline (toward), tend (to), admire, appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value
    near: disfavor, dislike, mislike, abhor, abominate, detest, hate, loathe, decline, refuse, reject, turn down, discard, jettison, throw away, throw out

Related Entry: Care and feeding (noun)

Care and feeding is a different word from Care. The synonyms below are for care and feeding, not for care.

  1. the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition

    "devotes too much time to the care and feeding of her buggy computer"

    similar: conservation, conserving, keep, maintenance, preservation, preserving, sustentation, upkeep
    related: conservancy, support, sustaining, care, custody, guardianship, defense, guarding, protection, safeguarding, safekeeping
    near: dereliction, disregard, ignoring, inattention, neglect, negligence, damage, demolition, destruction, harm, hurt, injury, ruin, ruination

Related Entry: Care package (noun)

Care package is a different word from Care. The synonyms below are for care package, not for care.

  1. as in box, foy

    similar: box (British), foy (chiefly Scottish), alms, benefaction, beneficence, benevolence, charity, contribution, dole, handout, oblation, offering, philanthropy, tithe, grant, subsidy, bestowal, comp, donation, donative, fairing (British), freebie, gift, giveaway, handsel, lagniappe, largesse, present, presentation, remembrance, tribute, valentine, bonus, boon, windfall, courtesy, favor, generosity, sacrifice, gratuity, propine (Scottish), tip, award, prize, reward, dowry
    opposite: advance, loan, bribe, douceur, peace offering, sop

Related Entry: Care packages (noun)

Care packages is a different word from Care. The synonyms below are for care packages, not for care.

  1. as in boxes, foys

    similar: boxes (British), foys (chiefly Scottish), alms, benefactions, beneficences, benevolences, charities, contributions, doles, handouts, oblations, offerings, philanthropies, tithes, grants, subsidies, bestowals, comps, donations, donatives, fairings (British), freebies, gifts, giveaways, handsels, lagniappes, largesses, presentations, presents, remembrances, tributes, valentines, bonuses, boons, windfalls, courtesies, favors, generosities, sacrifices, gratuities, propines (Scottish), tips, awards, prizes, rewards, dowries
    opposite: advances, loans, bribes, douceurs, peace offerings, sops

Related Entry: Devil-may-care (adjective)

Devil-may-care is a different word from Care. The synonyms below are for devil-may-care, not for care.

  1. having a relaxed, casual manner

    "a devil-may-care golfer who knows that it's only a game"

    similar: affable, breezy, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, laid-back, low-pressure, mellow
    related: carefree, casual, dégagé, lackadaisical, nonchalant, unaffected, unconcerned, unfussy, unperturbed, untroubled, unworried, familiar, homey, informal, flexible, lax, lenient, permissive, pliable, pliant, soft, accessible, approachable, imperturbable, nerveless, unflappable, unshakable, amicable, companionable, comradely, cordial, genial, hail-fellow-well-met, hearty, neighborly, warm, warmhearted
    opposite: high-strung, uptight
    near: ceremonious, decorous, formal, rigid, strict, anxious, bothered, distressed, worried, jittery, jumpy, nervous, skittish, tense

  2. having or showing a lack of concern for the consequences of one's actions

    "the devil-may-care speed with which he drives his sports car is going to cause a lot of grief someday"

    similar: daredevil, foolhardy, harum-scarum, hell-for-leather, irresponsible, kamikaze, reckless
    related: adventurous, audacious, bold, daring, venturesome, hasty, headlong, hotheaded, impetuous, precipitate, rash, wild, blithe, carefree, happy-go-lucky, madcap, slaphappy, nonchalant, unconcerned, unworried, careless, freewheeling, heedless, inattentive, incautious, mindless, regardless, unheeding, unmindful, feckless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, unthinking
    opposite: responsible
    near: careful, cautious, circumspect, heedful, overcareful, overcautious, timid

  3. having or showing freedom from worries or troubles

    "the devil-may-care attitude that some people have about needlessly contributing to global warming"

    similar: blithe, carefree, debonair, gay, happy-go-lucky, insouciant, lighthearted, lightsome, slaphappy, unconcerned
    related: blasé, breezy, cavalier, nonchalant, casual, easygoing, informal, laid-back, low-pressure, relaxed, unfussy
    opposite: careworn
    near: earnest, grave, serious, serious-minded, somber, careful, cautious, heedful, wary, anxious, concerned, upset, worried, long-suffering, overburdened, sorrowful

Related Entry: Take care of (phrase)

Take care of is a different word from Care. The synonyms below are for take care of, not for care.

  1. to attend to the needs and comforts of

    "He took care of his mother when she got sick."

    similar: administer (to), care (for), minister (to), mother, nurse, do for (chiefly British), look after, look out for, look to, see to, wait on
    related: cure, heal, remedy, doctor, treat, aid, conserve, preserve, provide (for), support, baby, coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil, cater (to), humor, indulge
    near: brush (aside or off), forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, slight

  2. to pay the living expenses of

    "We took care of our daughter until she graduated from college."

    similar: keep, maintain, provide (for), support, foot the bill (for)
    related: finance, fund, patronize, set up, sponsor, stake, underwrite

  3. to take charge of especially on behalf of another

    "He took care of his neighbors' plants while they were on vacation."

    similar: attend, care (for), mind, oversee, superintend, supervise, tend, watch, look after, see after, see to
    related: administrate, conduct, control, direct, govern, guide, manage, operate, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, guard, patrol, protect, safeguard, shield, baby, babysit, chaperone, mother, shepherd
    near: abandon, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, pass over

Related Entry: Taken care of (phrase)

Taken care of is a different word from Care. The synonyms below are for taken care of, not for care.

  1. to attend to the needs and comforts of

    "He took care of his mother when she got sick."

    similar: administered (to), cared (for), ministered (to), mothered, nursed, done for (chiefly British), looked after, looked out for, looked to, seen to, waited on
    related: cured, healed, remedied, doctored, treated, aided, conserved, preserved, provided (for), supported, babied, coddled, mollycoddled, pampered, spoiled, catered (to), humored, indulged
    near: brushed (aside or off), forgotten, ignored, neglected, overlooked, slighted

  2. to pay the living expenses of

    "We took care of our daughter until she graduated from college."

    similar: kept, maintained, provided (for), supported, footed the bill (for)
    related: financed, funded, patronized, set up, sponsored, staked, underwritten

  3. to take charge of especially on behalf of another

    "He took care of his neighbors' plants while they were on vacation."

    similar: attended, cared (for), minded, overseen, superintended, supervised, tended, watched, looked after, seen after, seen to
    related: administrated, conducted, controlled, directed, governed, guided, managed, operated, presided (over), regulated, run, stewarded, guarded, patrolled, protected, safeguarded, shielded, babied, babysat, chaperoned, mothered, shepherded
    near: abandoned, disregarded, forgotten, ignored, neglected, passed over

Related Entry: Took care of (phrase)

Took care of is a different word from Care. The synonyms below are for took care of, not for care.

  1. to attend to the needs and comforts of

    "He took care of his mother when she got sick."

    similar: administered (to), cared (for), ministered (to), mothered, nursed, did for (chiefly British), looked after, looked out for, looked to, saw to, waited on
    related: cured, healed, remedied, doctored, treated, aided, conserved, preserved, provided (for), supported, babied, coddled, mollycoddled, pampered, spoiled, catered (to), humored, indulged
    near: brushed (aside or off), forgot, ignored, neglected, overlooked, slighted

  2. to pay the living expenses of

    "We took care of our daughter until she graduated from college."

    similar: kept, maintained, provided (for), supported, footed the bill (for)
    related: financed, funded, patronized, set up, sponsored, staked, underwrote

  3. to take charge of especially on behalf of another

    "He took care of his neighbors' plants while they were on vacation."

    similar: attended, cared (for), minded, oversaw, superintended, supervised, tended, watched, looked after, saw after, saw to
    related: administrated, conducted, controlled, directed, governed, guided, managed, operated, presided (over), ran, regulated, stewarded, guarded, patrolled, protected, safeguarded, shielded, babied, babysat, chaperoned, mothered, shepherded
    near: abandoned, disregarded, forgot, ignored, neglected, passed over

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Care

The most common words with a similar meaning to Care:

carefulness, closeness, conscientiousness, heed, heedfulness, meticulosity, meticulousness, pains, scrupulousness, lovingness, solicitousness, solicitude, alertness, caution, cautiousness, chariness, circumspection, gingerliness, guardedness, prudence, wariness, agita, agitation, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, concern, concernment, disquiet, disquietude, fear, nervosity, nervousness, perturbation, sweat, unease, uneasiness, worry, custodianship

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Care

Words with the opposite meaning of Care:

heedlessness, inattentiveness, negligence, carelessness, brashness, incaution, incautiousness, recklessness, unwariness, unconcern

Related Words for Care

advertence, advertency, attention, concentration, focus, observance, observation, mindfulness, vigilance, watchfulness, dutifulness, irreproachability, irreproachableness, punctiliousness, responsibility, bother, effort, painstaking, trouble, exactness, particularity, precision, considerateness, consideration, kindness, thoughtfulness, babying, coddling, pampering, attentiveness

Near Antonyms of Care

inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inobservance, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness, unkindness, abruptness, hastiness, impetuousness, precipitousness, rashness, suddenness, calm, calmness, content, contentment, ease, easiness, peace, peacefulness, placidity, placidness, quiet, quietude, sereneness, serenity, tranquility, tranquilness

Word Forms of Care

Inflections: cares, cared, caring

Derived words: carer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Care

Middle English, "sorrow, distress, concern," going back to Old English cearu, caru, going back to Germanic *karō (whence also Old Saxon kara "sorrow, worry," Old High German chara, Old Norse kǫr "sickbed," Gothic kara "concern") perhaps going back to an Indo-European base *ǵeh2r-, *ǵh2r- "make a sound, cry," whence Old Irish ad-gair "(s/he) accuses, sues," Middle Irish gáir "shout, cry," Welsh gawr, Greek gêrys "voice, speech," Middle Persian zryg, zryq "sorrow, suffering," Ossetic (Iron dialect) zæl- "make a sound," zar- "sing"

First known use: before 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Care

care and feeding, care less, care package, care a hoot, care for, care of, care worker, critical care

Frequently Asked Questions about Care

What does "Care" mean?

"Care" means suffering of mind, grief. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: suffering of mind, grief. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Care"?

Other words for "Care" include carefulness, closeness, conscientiousness, heed, heedfulness, meticulosity, meticulousness and pains. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Care" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Care"?

There are 182 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Care". Common alternatives include carefulness, closeness, conscientiousness, heed, heedfulness, meticulosity, meticulousness, pains, scrupulousness and lovingness.

What is the opposite of "Care"?

Antonyms of "Care" include heedlessness, inattentiveness, negligence, carelessness, brashness, incaution, incautiousness and recklessness. Near antonyms include inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention and inobservance.

How do you use "Care" in a sentence?

Examples of "Care" in a sentence: "reading the report with more care the second time, she detected several errors"; "that's an extremely valuable violin, so handle it with care"; "take care while crossing the street".

Is "Care" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Care" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Care"?

"Care" is pronounced /ˈker/.

What is the origin of the word "Care"?

"Care" comes from Middle English, "sorrow, distress, concern," going back to Old English cearu, caru, going back to Germanic *karō (whence also Old Saxon kara "sorrow, worry," Old High German chara, Old Norse kǫr "sickbed," Gothic kara "concern") perhaps going back to an Indo-European base *ǵeh2r-, *ǵh2r- "make a sound, cry," whence Old Irish ad-gair "(s/he) accuses, sues," Middle Irish gáir "shout, cry," Welsh gawr, Greek gêrys "voice, speech," Middle Persian zryg, zryq "sorrow, suffering," Ossetic (Iron dialect) zæl- "make a sound," zar- "sing". First known use: before 12th century.