# concern

/kənˈsɝn/ (US) · /kənsˈɜːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/concern
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to relate to

verb · CEFR B1

to be about a particular subject or to affect someone.

For teachers: to relate to or be connected with; to have relevance to a specific person or topic.

- The new safety rules concern everyone who works in the factory.
- The report specifically concerns the environmental impact of the new pipeline, though it touches on economic factors as well.

Usage: This verb is transitive and does not take a preposition like 'about'.

### 2. to make worried

verb · CEFR B1

to make someone feel anxious or uneasy.

For teachers: to cause anxiety or worry in someone.

- The dark clouds in the distance began to concern the hikers.
- The sudden drop in quarterly profits concerned the board of directors, leading to an emergency meeting.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice as 'to be concerned about'.

### 3. a worry

noun · CEFR B1

a feeling of worry or a specific problem that makes you anxious.

For teachers: a state of anxiety or a specific matter that causes apprehension.

- Parents expressed concern about the safety of the new playground.
- The primary concern for the engineering team was the structural integrity of the bridge during high winds.

### 4. something important

noun · CEFR B2

something that is your responsibility or that you are interested in.

For teachers: a matter of interest, importance, or responsibility to someone.

- How he spends his own money is not my concern.
- The daily operations of the branch are the manager's concern, while long-term strategy is handled by the head office.

### 5. a business

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a company or a business.

For teachers: a commercial enterprise, firm, or business establishment.

- The family has owned this small clothing concern for three generations.
- The merger transformed the local manufacturer into a global concern with offices on four continents.

Teaching tip: This sense is quite formal and often used in legal or financial contexts, such as 'a going concern'.

### 6. software logic

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a specific part of a computer program that handles one job.

For teachers: a distinct set of information or logic that affects the code of a computer program.

- The developer decided to separate the database logic from the user interface concern.
- Separation of concerns is a fundamental principle in software architecture to ensure that different sections of code address distinct functionalities.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'separation of concerns'.

## Examples

- The teacher expressed concern about the student's grades.
- The main concern for the engineering team is ensuring the bridge can withstand high winds during the winter.
- While the immediate financial results were positive, the board expressed deep concern regarding the long-term sustainability of the current supply chain model in a volatile market.

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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.