Definition of care
Short definition: The word care means showing concern, attention, or kindness toward someone or something. People use it when talking about feelings, health, responsibility, or the effort taken to look after things that matter.
Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the word care? The word care is one of those simple words that carries a lot of meaning. It can describe love, attention, responsibility, and even worry—sometimes all at once. We use care when we talk about looking after people, being concerned about situations, or showing that something truly matters to us. In everyday life, care appears in relationships, work, parenting, friendships, and even in the small things we do for ourselves. Below, each meaning is explained in a relaxed and natural way, with longer explanations that feel like real life, not like a stiff dictionary.
Noun forms: care, cares
Verb forms: care, cares, caring, cared
Related: careful adj., careless adj., caring adj.
Syllable: care
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The feeling of love, concern, or interest you have for someone or something.
In this sense, care is about what you feel in your heart when someone or something truly matters to you. It shows in the way you listen, support, and stay involved, even when it is not easy or convenient. To care is to feel connected—to want the best for someone, and to be affected by what happens to them.
She really cares about her younger brother, always checking in on him and encouraging him when life feels difficult.He said he didn’t care about money as much as happiness, because feeling peaceful meant more to him than being rich.You can tell she cares about her work, not just because she does it well, but because she puts her heart into every detail.Synonyms: concern, affection, love, interest, devotion, compassion, attachment, emotional support, kindness, attentiveness, warmth, empathy
Antonyms: indifference, coldness, neglect, apathy, lack of interest, detachment, disregard, insensitivity, emotional distance, unconcern, heartlessness, carelessness -
The act of looking after someone or something and making sure they are safe and well.
Here, care is not just a feeling—it is action. It means taking responsibility for someone’s health, comfort, or safety, whether that is a child, an elderly parent, a patient, or even a pet. This kind of care shows through daily routines, patience, and the small efforts that keep others feeling supported.
She took care of her grandmother during the winter, helping with meals, medicine, and simple things that made life easier.The nurses provided excellent care for the patients, making sure everyone felt respected and not just treated like a number.He promised to care for the dog while his friend was away, and quickly realized how much responsibility that really meant.Synonyms: look after, take care of, tend, nurse, support, protect, attend to, watch over, provide help, give attention to, safeguard, maintain
Antonyms: neglect, abandon, ignore, mistreat, overlook, leave unattended, disregard needs, fail to protect, forget about, mistend, misuse, harm -
Attention and effort you put into doing something well.
In this meaning, care is about how seriously you take what you do. It shows when you slow down, double-check your work, and try your best, not because someone is watching, but because you want to do things properly. To do something with care is to show respect—for the task, for others, and for yourself.
She packed the fragile gifts with great care, wrapping each one carefully so nothing would break on the way.He completed the project with real care, checking every detail instead of rushing just to finish quickly.The artist paints with so much care that even the smallest lines seem full of meaning.Synonyms: attention, caution, diligence, thoughtfulness, precision, mindfulness, carefulness, thoroughness, responsibility, seriousness, dedication, exactness
Antonyms: carelessness, negligence, recklessness, hurry, sloppiness, inattention, lack of focus, thoughtlessness, laziness, haste, disregard for detail, irresponsibility -
To feel worried or concerned about something.
Sometimes care means carrying a sense of worry inside you— thinking about problems, responsibilities, or the future. In this sense, care is close to concern or anxiety, especially when you feel responsible for how things turn out.
Parents often care deeply about their children’s future, even when the kids are too young to understand those worries.She couldn’t help but care about what people thought of her, even though she tried to act confident.He cared a lot about the result of the exam, knowing it could change his next step in life.Synonyms: worry, be concerned, mind, be anxious about, think about seriously, take to heart, feel troubled by, be uneasy about, feel responsible for, stress over, feel concern for, carry worries
Antonyms: not worry, feel relaxed about, ignore concerns, feel carefree, be indifferent to, dismiss worries, stay calm, be unconcerned, let go of stress, take lightly, feel at ease, not mind -
To like or want something, or to have an opinion about it.
In casual speech, care is often used to talk about preferences. When you say you care about something, it can mean you like it, support it, or simply feel that it matters to you. And when you say you don’t care, it usually means it is not important to you.
She doesn’t really care for loud parties, preferring quiet evenings with a good book instead.He said he didn’t care what others thought, as long as he felt happy with his own choices.They care deeply about environmental issues, so they try to live in a more sustainable way every day.Synonyms: like, be interested in, value, appreciate, mind, support, feel strongly about, be fond of, care for, have concern for, attach importance to, favor
Antonyms: dislike, not mind, be indifferent to, not care about, ignore, dismiss, feel no interest in, be unconcerned with, show no preference for, reject interest in, feel detached from, be uninterested in