Word
concern
Phoneticscon·cern, stress on the second syllable
US/kənˈsɝn/
UK/kənsˈɜːn/
Definitions
01to relate to
B1 · Intermediate
v. to be about a particular subject or to affect someone.
v. to relate to or be connected with; to have relevance to a specific person or topic.
日本語:関する※
“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'.
02to make worried
B1 · Intermediate
v. to make someone feel anxious or uneasy.
v. to cause anxiety or worry in someone.
日本語:心配する※
“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'.
03a worry
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a feeling of worry or a specific problem that makes you anxious.
n. a state of anxiety or a specific matter that causes apprehension.
日本語:心配※
“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.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04something important
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. something that is your responsibility or that you are interested in.
n. 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.”
Synonyms
05a business
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a company or a business.
n. 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'.
Synonyms
06software logic
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a specific part of a computer program that handles one job.
n. 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'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “concern” in context.
Verb
01. address concern
“The manager held a meeting to address concerns regarding the new office policy.”
verb + noun
02. concern with
“This chapter will concern itself with the historical development of the city.”
verb + prep
03. especially concern
“The new safety regulations especially concern those working in the construction industry.”
adv + verb
04. mainly concern
“The discussions mainly concern the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.”
adv + verb
05. particularly concern
“These changes to the law particularly concern small business owners.”
adv + verb
06. primarily concern
“The report does not primarily concern itself with financial figures, but with social impact.”
adv + verb
Noun
07. ethical concern
“The use of artificial intelligence in hiring raises a major ethical concern.”
adj + noun
08. increasing concern
“There is increasing concern about the effects of plastic pollution on marine life.”
adj + noun
09. methodological concern
“The researchers raised a methodological concern regarding the sample size of the study.”
adj + noun
10. particular concern
“The rise in youth unemployment is a matter of particular concern for the government.”
adj + noun
11. primary concern
“Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of all our employees.”
adj + noun
12. related concern
“The doctor discussed the patient's heart condition and a related concern about blood pressure.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Australia and the US are also discussing concerns about Trump’s latest round of trade tariffs and the ongoing Iran war.” “Global competition is no longer a concern for Smith.” “A key reason for the sell-off in recent weeks has been concerns over the huge amounts of money being spent on AI, Chong adds.” “AI-generated music has long been a concern for fans and artists.” Etymology
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- 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 IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/concern
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0