# care for sb

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/care-for-sb
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to look after someone who is young, old, or sick; it can also mean to love or like someone very much.

For teachers: to provide for the physical or emotional needs of another person; also functions as a more formal or romantic synonym for 'to love' or 'to be fond of'.

## Examples

- He spends his weekends caring for his elderly mother.
- The hospital is looking for volunteers to care for patients who do not have any family nearby.
- Although they had only known each other for a few months, it was clear that he had come to care for her deeply.

## Pitfalls

- Not "She cares of her brother." but "She cares for her brother." — the verb 'care' requires the preposition 'for' when it means looking after someone; 'care of' is only used in postal addresses.

## Usage notes

- the object is always the person receiving the attention or affection.
- Teaching tip: point out the two distinct senses: the 'nursing/looking after' sense and the 'affection/liking' sense, which is often used in negative questions like 'Would you care for a drink?'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.