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"Care" is to find something important or to look after someone; "worry" is to feel anxious about something that might go wrong.
Side-by-side comparison
To have interest, to find something important, or to look after someone. Can be positive or neutral.
She really cares about the environment. She recycles everything.
I do not care what they think. I will do it my way.
Who is taking care of the children while you are at work?
To feel anxiety or concern about something negative that might happen.
I am worried about the exam tomorrow. I did not study enough.
Do not worry, everything will work out fine.
She worries too much about things she cannot control.
Common mistake
- •"I care about my health" (it matters to me, I value it) and "I worry about my health" (I fear something bad might happen) are not interchangeable.
- •"Care" can be positive; "worry" always implies something negative or uncertain causing anxiety.
Trick to remember it
- •Is there a specific fear that something bad might happen? "Worry".
- •Does something just matter to you, or are you looking after someone? "Care".
- •"I care about you" = you matter to me.
- •"I worry about you" = I fear something bad might happen to you.
Quick rule
- •"Care" = to matter or look after (neutral or positive).
- •"Worry" = to be anxious about something possibly negative (always with anxiety).
Did you know?
"I couldn't care less" (I do not care at all) is one of the most misused phrases in English. In the US many people say "I could care less" (which would mean something still matters to them) when they mean the opposite. It is so widespread it is now accepted informally, even though it is technically a contradiction. Linguists have debated for decades whether this is an "error" or a natural "semantic shift".
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She _____ a lot about the environment. She recycles everything and never buys plastic.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
I always _____ when she doesn't text me back. I hope she's okay.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
"Bother" is to annoy or trouble emotionally; "disturb" is to interrupt or unsettle.
"Mind" expresses that something bothers or inconveniences you; "matter" expresses that something has importance or relevance.
"Think" expresses an opinion or assumption; "believe" expresses conviction or faith.
"Above" is at a higher level without contact; "over" implies covering, movement, or crossing.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy