concern Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun something that interests you because it is important or affects you
    • the safety of the ship is the captain's concern
  2. noun an anxious feeling
    fear; care.
    • care had aged him
    • they hushed it up out of fear of public reaction
  3. noun a feeling of sympathy for someone or something
    • She felt strong concern for those less fortunate
  4. noun something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness
    headache; vexation; worry.
    • New York traffic is a constant concern
    • it's a major worry
  5. noun a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
    business organisation; business concern; business organization; business.
    • he bought his brother's business
    • a small mom-and-pop business
    • a racially integrated business concern
  6. verb be relevant to
    touch on; relate; pertain; have-to doe with; bear on; touch; come to; refer.
    • There were lots of questions referring to her talk
    • My remark pertained to your earlier comments
  7. verb be on the mind of
    occupy; worry; interest.
    • I worry about the second Germanic consonant shift

WordNet

Con*cern" transitive verb
Etymology
F. concerner, LL. concernere to regard, concern, fr. L. concernere to mix or mingle together, as in a sieve for separating; con- + cernere to separate, sift, distinguish by the senses, and especially by the eyes, to perceive, see. See Certain.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Concerned ; present participle & verbal noun Concerning
Definitions
  1. To relate or belong to; to have reference to or connection with; to affect the interest of; to be of importance to.
    Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts xxviii. 31.
    Our wars with France have affected us in our most tender interests, and concerned us more than those with any other nation. Addison.
    It much concerns a preacher first to learn The genius of his audience and their turn. Dodsley.
    Ignorant, so far as the usual instruction is concerned. J. F. Cooper.
  2. To engage by feeling or sentiment; to interest; as, a good prince concerns himself in the happiness of his subjects.
    They think themselves out the reach of Providence, and no longer concerned to solicit his favor. Rogers.
Con*cern" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be of importance. Obs.
    Which to deny concerns more than avails. Shak.
Con*cern" noun
Definitions
  1. That which relates or belongs to one; business; affair.
    The private concerns of fanilies. Addison.
  2. That which affects the welfare or happiness; interest; moment.
    Mysterious secrets of a high concern. Roscommon.
  3. Interest in, or care for, any person or thing; regard; solicitude; anxiety.
    O Marcia, let me hope thy kind concerns And gentle wishes follow me to beattle. {\*\bkmkstart last}\error \*\bkmkend last}Addison.
  4. (Com.) Persons connected in business; a firm and its business; as, a banking concern. Syn. -- Care; anxiety; solicitude; interest; regard; business; affair; matter; moment. See Care.

Webster 1913