Word
concerning
Phoneticscon·cern·ing, stress on the second syllable
US/kənˈsɝnɪŋ/
UK/kənsˈɜːnɪŋ/
Definitions
01about or regarding
B1 · Intermediate Formal
prep. about or relating to a particular subject.
prep. regarding or relating to; used as a formal preposition to introduce a topic.
“The lawyer asked several questions concerning the events of last night.”
“The board of directors issued a formal statement concerning the proposed merger and its potential impact on long-term shareholders.”
Usage
Often used in professional or academic writing to replace the more common 'about'.
Synonyms
02worrying
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. making you feel worried or anxious.
adj. causing concern, anxiety, or apprehension; often used to describe a trend or piece of news.
“The doctor said the test results were quite concerning and ordered more scans.”
“The recent decline in local biodiversity is deeply concerning to environmental scientists who have been monitoring the region for decades.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Chief executive Pia Sinha said this was "not unusual", but "some of the calls have been worrying and concerning".” “When asked why he feels comfortable offering procedures that are concerning surgeons, Hussain says he "totally understands" why some are worried.” Etymology
From concern + -ing. The adjective and preposition follow from the verb.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/concerning