Cool MateCare vs Worry
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Care
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Worry
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
| Care | Worry | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/keə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ker/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈwʌri/","/ˈwʌriz/","/ˈwʌrid/","/ˈwʌriɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈwɜːri/","/ˈwɜːriz/","/ˈwɜːrid/","/ˈwɜːriɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to feel interest or concern about something or someone | To feel uneasy or anxious about something. |
| Example | She shows great care for her pets. | I tend to worry about my exams every time. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb |
| Collocations | good, great, proper, take, deliver, provide (somebody with), services, centre/center, facility, in care, in somebody’s care, under the care of, care of somebody, in care of somebody, the quality of care, extreme, good, great, exercise, take, need, with care, without care | a lot, particularly, really, not let something, not need to, begin to, about, for, with, can’t help worrying, enough to worry about, nothing to worry about, a lot, particularly, really, not let something, not need to, begin to, about, for, with, can’t help worrying, enough to worry about, nothing to worry about, a lot, particularly, really, not let something, not need to, begin to, about, for, with, can’t help worrying, enough to worry about, nothing to worry about |
| Antonyms | disregard, neglect, ignore | calm, relax, dismiss |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'caring', which implies action rather than just feeling., Omitting 'about' when expressing concern (e.g., saying 'I care my family' instead of 'I care about my family'). | Confused with 'worry' vs 'care' — 'worry' implies anxiety., Incorrectly use 'worrying' as a noun instead of a verb., Using 'worry' without an object, e.g., 'I worry' should be followed by 'about something.' |
| Usage notes | Use 'care' to express concern or affection. It's suitable in most contexts but may sound too emotional in very formal situations. | Use 'worry' for general concerns. It's neutral but can sound weak in more serious contexts. Avoid in professional settings unless discussing stress. |
Frequently asked questions: Care vs Worry
What's the difference between Care and Worry?
Care: to feel interest or concern about something or someone Worry: To feel uneasy or anxious about something.
Are Care and Worry the same CEFR level?
Care: A2, Worry: A2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Care and Worry interchangeably?
Not always. Care and Worry are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.