Caring Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms caring American [kair-ing] / ˈkɛər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. feeling or showing care for, concern about, or attentiveness to other people's needs; compassionate; thoughtful.

   I often speak of our desire to build a smart and caring nation that nurtures its citizens.

   He's such a caring person and a great friend to me.

2. relating to the task of identifying and tending to the needs of others, especially those who cannot look after themselves.

   The study showed that in this country, women are responsible for the bulk of unpaid domestic and caring work.

   Empathy is important in caring professions such as nursing and social work, but avoiding burnout is also essential.

noun

1. the act or practice of showing concern for, displaying attentiveness to, or tending to the needs of others.

   In these stories, we can see what caring, compassion, and altruism look like distilled to their purest forms.

   During this nursing course, you will study caring, communication, health promotion, and infection prevention.

caring British / ˈkɛərɪŋ /

adjective

1. feeling or showing care and compassion

   a caring attitude

2. of or relating to professional social or medical care

   nursing is a caring job

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

1. the practice or profession of providing social or medical care

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• caringly adverb

Etymology

Origin of caring

First recorded in 1550–60; care ( def. ), -ing 1 ( def. ), -ing 2 ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

An obituary posted on a funeral home website after Dyer's death said he was "sweet, gentle, quiet, kind and very caring to those he loved".

From BBC

She has been exactly in your position, caring for a mother with dementia, and now she helps others through it.

From MarketWatch

"Aleisha was the most loving, caring and compassionate daughter you could wish for," her mother said.

From BBC

They have said in interviews to local media that they had exhausted all their savings caring for Rana and were worried about what would happen to him after they died.

From BBC

A Japanese zoo caring for a baby monkey who has become an internet sensation was forced to issue a statement denying he was being bullied, following an outpouring of concern online.

From Barron's

Related Words

• accessible
• advantageous
• applicable
• conducive
• constructive
• convenient
• cooperative
• crucial
• essential
• favorable
• friendly
• important
• invaluable
• practical
• productive
• profitable
• significant
• suitable
• supportive
• sympathetic

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.