take care
idiomatic 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
Sam GuginoPatients 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.Marlene CimonsI'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
Brian JacquesIn this land of ritual, Westerners should take care to inform themselves of protocol.—Jeff Morgan
Jeff MorganOpen 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
Elizabeth CraigExamples of take care in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Claire is efficient, detail-oriented and always ready to take care of business, which is classic Virgo.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Rather than reach, the Dolphins could take care of another big need.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2025
How does Animal Kingdom take care of their animals?
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
Velasco took care to mention the Israel-Gaza war, in which at least 173 journalists and media workers have been killed since October 2023 — marking the deadliest period for journalists since the Committee to Protect Journalists began tracking violence against journalists in 1992.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take care
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Valerie Mesa, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Rather than reach, the Dolphins could take care of another big need.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2025
How does Animal Kingdom take care of their animals?
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
Velasco took care to mention the Israel-Gaza war, in which at least 173 journalists and media workers have been killed since October 2023 — marking the deadliest period for journalists since the Committee to Protect Journalists began tracking violence against journalists in 1992.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take care
Cite this Entry
“Take care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20care. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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