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

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

These financial protections will enable residents to concentrate on taking care of their immediate needs rather than worrying about paying their mortgage bills. —Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 19 Jan. 2025

Troll free and all about taking care of our mental health. —Toria Sheffield, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025

Garrett knows how to take care of his equipment and be there at the end. —David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025

In a society where adults often come to work sick, teaching teens to take care of themselves is important. —Maya Dollarhide, Parents, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 2