# care

> English word · Noun · IPA /kɛə/ · frequency rank #247

## Definitions
1. Close attention; concern; responsibility.
2. Worry.
3. Maintenance, upkeep.
4. The treatment of those in need (especially as a profession).
5. The state of being cared for by others.
6. The object of watchful attention or anxiety.
7. Grief, sorrow.

## Etymology
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.

## Easily confused with
- **CR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-cr)
- **CE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-ce)
- **cat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-cat)
- **cry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-cry)
- **cue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-cue)
- **cas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-cas)
- **che** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-che)
- **CPR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-cpr)
- **cor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-cor)
- **CSR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-csr)
- **Coe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-coe)
- **CFR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-cfr)
- **CRT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-crt)
- **CRM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-crm)
- **CDR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-cdr)
- **CTR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-ctr)
- **cee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-cee)
- **cur** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-cur)
- **CME** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-cme)
- **CRS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-crs)

## Common misspellings (4)
`caer`, `carre`, `ccare`, `crae`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/care