What does "concern" mean?

1. (to relate to) to be about a particular subject or to affect someone. 2. (to make worried) to make someone feel anxious or uneasy. 3. (a worry) a feeling of worry or a specific problem that makes you anxious. 4. (something important) something that is your responsibility or that you are interested in. 5. (a business) a company or a business. 6. (software logic) a specific part of a computer program that handles one job.

How do you use "concern"?

This verb is transitive and does not take a preposition like 'about'. Often used in the passive voice as 'to be concerned about'. Commonly used in the phrase 'separation of concerns'.

concern

v. · n.

US //kənˈsɝn// UK //kənsˈɜːn// con·cern

1 to relate to (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to be about a particular subject or to affect someone.

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

Example

The new safety rules concern everyone who works in the factory.

Example

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 (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to make someone feel anxious or uneasy.

to cause anxiety or worry in someone.

Example

The dark clouds in the distance began to concern the hikers.

Example

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'.
- reassure
- soothe

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3 a worry (n.)
B1 Intermediate

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

a state of anxiety or a specific matter that causes apprehension.

Example

Parents expressed concern about the safety of the new playground.

Example

The primary concern for the engineering team was the structural integrity of the bridge during high winds.
- indifference
- calm
4 something important (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

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

a matter of interest, importance, or responsibility to someone.

Example

How he spends his own money is not my concern.

Example

The daily operations of the branch are the manager's concern, while long-term strategy is handled by the head office.
5 a business (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

a company or a business.

a commercial enterprise, firm, or business establishment.

Example

The family has owned this small clothing concern for three generations.

Example

The merger transformed the local manufacturer into a global concern with offices on four continents.

Teacher's tip

This sense is quite formal and often used in legal or financial contexts, such as 'a going concern'.
6 software logic (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Computing

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

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

Example

The developer decided to separate the database logic from the user interface concern.

Example

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'.
- module
- aspect

Origin

Borrowed from Middle French concerner, from Medieval Latin concernō, concernere (“I distinguish, have respect to”), from Latin concernō (“to mix, sift, or mingle together, as in a sieve”), combined form of con- + cernō (“distinguish”).