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Glite Dictionary
to caretake

to caretake

1 4.9
To look after a person, a house, or pets for a short time
  • verb
  • /ˈkɛrˌteɪk/
translation icon : cuidar
  • He was hired to caretake the community garden during the summer months.

Examples

  • I was caretaking this ranch in Montana that the two of them had bought or were buying.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The divorce settlement would in no way allow either of the parties to live in the mansion; it had to be both or none, and that's where I came in: to caretake the place until it sold.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • It's not your job to caretake for me.

    The Exorcism (2024)

  • No one will investigate a poor man engaged to caretake an abandoned villa. "I will find them."

    Fiction book (1994)

  • A woman caretaking a shrine in Ishinomaki had honored us by letting us come in and see the footprint of the attacks on this 400-year-old structure.

    Blog text (11)

  • I agree to caretake for my neighbor while she is on vacation.

  • As part of my internship, I will caretake the historic site for the tourists.

Synonyms

to care for
vsto caretake
347 1.0

Look after a sick or injured person and give them needed help

is broader and applies to temporary guardianship beyond medical help
to take care of (someone)
vsto caretake
4 1.2

Look after and help someone so they are safe and healthy

is focused on short term guardianship including property and duties

Antonyms

to abandon
773 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

How Responsible

to manage
643 2.7
to caretake
1 4.9
to look after
472 1.1
to assist
605 1.0
help
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

caretake infinitive
caretaking present participle
caretakes third person singular
caretook past
caretaken past participle

Morphology

caretake = caretaker (transparent) = care + take

The verb is a back-formation from 'caretaker' (removal of '-er'), and its meaning 'act as a caretaker' is directly predictable from that noun.

Etymology

The word caretake is made from the two simple words care ('looking after') and take ('to take on'), like the everyday phrase 'take care' and the familiar word caretaker. So to caretake something is to 'take care' of it — to look after a person, place, or duty, often for a short time.