take care

phrase

1

: to be careful or watchful : to exercise caution or prudence

Because fish is more delicate than beef, take care when pounding it thin.

—Sam Gugino

Patients also should take care in storing their drugs because heat exposure could affect their efficacy, [Aaron] Bernstein says.

—Marlene Cimons

—often used informally to express good wishes when parting, at the end of a message, etc.

I'll see you next week. Take care!

2

: to give particular attention to doing or not doing something

When he had finished writing, Cluny pushed the parchment under his pillow, taking care to leave just a small corner of it jutting out.

—Brian Jacques

In this land of ritual, Westerners should take care to inform themselves of protocol.

—Jeff Morgan

Open oysters carefully just before they are required, taking care not to spill the liquor in their deep shells.

—Elizabeth Craig

see also take care of

Examples of take care in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Plus, people overall are taking care of themselves more, with a focus on longevity. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Relievers Cam Booser and Kevin Kelly took care of the other four. — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2026

While handling the physical aspects, Judd also has been taking care of the mental component. — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

The women’s anxieties, while still palpable, seem to wane as they’re taken care of by Saucedo and Dastine and her staff. — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for take care

• aftercare
• anywhere
• billionaire
• chinaware
• debonair
• dinnerware
• disrepair
• doctrinaire
• earthenware
• everywhere
• frigidaire
• kitchenware