take care

idiomatic phrase

1
: to be careful or watchful : to exercise caution or prudence
Because fish is more delicate than beef, take care when pounding it thin.Sam Gugino
Patients also should take care in storing their drugs because heat exposure could affect their efficacy, [Aaron] Bernstein says.Marlene Cimons
often used informally to express good wishes when parting, at the end of a message, etc.
I'll see you next week. Take care!
2
: to give particular attention to doing or not doing something
When he had finished writing, Cluny pushed the parchment under his pillow, taking care to leave just a small corner of it jutting out.Brian Jacques
In this land of ritual, Westerners should take care to inform themselves of protocol.Jeff Morgan
Open oysters carefully just before they are required, taking care not to spill the liquor in their deep shells.Elizabeth Craig
see also take care of

Examples of take care in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Away from the cocktail and any alcohol bottle, flame the rosemary sprig by using either a lighter or a brûlée torch, taking care not to burn yourself. Jeff Burkhart, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024 That said, the 45% discount takes care of the high price. Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024 There are conflicting reports of who Jamie was being taken care of the night her mother disappeared, and Jamie was too young at the time to remember. Anna Turning, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024 Barcelona City Council also issued a flood warning on its website, urging people to take care and avoid areas where flooding may occur. Atika Shubert, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for take care 

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of take care was in 1562

Cite this Entry

“Take care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20care. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on take care

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