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Glite Dictionary
☕ To like or want 🤱 To look after
to care for

to care for

347 1.0
Look after a sick or injured person and give them needed help
  • phrasal verb
  • /kɛr fɔr/
translation icon : cuidar
  • What is the age group of children you care for right now?
  • care for children
  • care for patients
  • care for older parents

I had a mother that cared for us and I had a father.

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Examples

  • In those environments, athletes want coaches who care for them both on and off the field of play.

    Academic text (2011)

  • We have the responsibility to care for all of our ancestors.

    Academic text (2011)

  • How are we supposed to feed and care for these people, Mark?

    A Town Full of Ghosts (2022)

  • One in 10 said they had to give up work to care for them as a result.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Just a few yards down the road here, they continue to care for the injured.

    Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

  • Greater research attention to younger patients and the providers who care for them is also needed.

    Academic text (2013)

  • An increasing number of DKG members care for senior friends or relatives.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Under which conditions, if any, should AI systems be used to care for the handicapped, elderly, or children?

    Academic text (2017)

  • Roselyn stated that a way of caring for her students was to be respectful to them.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The nurse will care for the patients in the hospital throughout the night.

Synonyms

to take care
vsto care for
∞ 1.3

To look after a person or thing and deal with their needs

is about hands-on help for sick or injured persons with treatment
to take care of
vsto care for
∞ 1.3

To look after someone or deal with a problem

is narrower, centring on medical help and personal tending
to treat
vsto care for
831 2.7

To give medical care to try to cure an illness or injury

is broader and also covers non-medical tending and general help
to attend to
vsto care for
151 3.6

To take care of someone or something

is more medical and involves treatment as well as attention
to nurse
vsto care for
60 2.3

To take care of someone to help them get better

is similar but focuses on both treatment and necessary attention
to take care of (someone)
vsto care for
4 1.2

Look after and help someone so they are safe and healthy

is focused specifically on treating sick or injured people
to caretake
vsto care for
1 4.9

To look after a person, a house, or pets for a short time

is ongoing personal tending that includes medical or recovery support

Antonyms

to abandon
773 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

neglect
100 3.5

Not caring for someone or something that needs care

How Caring

to look after
472 1.1
to care for
347 1.0
to tend
174 1.0
to treat
831 2.7

Surface Forms

care for infinitive
cared for past
cared for past participle
caring for present participle
cares for third person singular

Morphology

care + for

The sense 'to like' is related to the general meaning of 'care' (to be concerned or affectionate) but is not a direct compositional result of 'care' + 'for' given the cited headword 'to look after'. The preposition 'for' does not transparently contribute the specific sense 'to like', and many learners may confuse the 'look after' vs 'like' readings, so prior exposure aids understanding.

Etymology

Care for comes from the simple image of someone giving attention and help to a sick person: you care for them by feeding, cleaning and comforting them. That's why it means 'to look after' someone who is sick or hurt.