Definition of “concern” - English Dictionary

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“concern” in English

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concernverb

uk ​ /kənˈsɜːn/ us ​ /kənˈsɝːn/

concern verb (WORRY)

C1 [ T ] to cause worry to someone:

The state of my father's health concerns us greatly.
[ + that ] It concerns me that he hasn't been in contact.

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concern verb (INVOLVE)

B2 [ T ] to be important to someone or to involve someone directly:

Matters of pollution and the environment concern us all.
What I have to say to Amy doesn't concern you.

B2 [ T ] formal If a story, film, or article concerns a particular subject, person, etc., it is about that person or subject:

The documentary concerns a woman who goes to China as a missionary.
concern yourself

› to become involved with something, or worried about something:

There's no need for you to concern yourself with what happened.
Don't concern yourself. She'll be home soon.
to whom it may concern

› something you write at the start of a formal letter or notice when you do not know exactly who it should be sent to

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concernnoun

uk ​ /kənˈsɜːn/ us ​ /kənˈsɝːn/

concern noun (WORRY)

B2 [ C or U ] a worried or nervous feeling about something, or something that makes you feel worried:

Concern for the safety of the two missing teenagers is growing.
There's a lot of public concern about/over dangerous toxins recently found in food.
[ + that ] My concern is that you're not getting enough work done.

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concern noun (IMPORTANT TO)

B2 [ C or U ] something that is important to you, or the fact of being important:

[ + to infinitive ] His concern to appear sophisticated amused everyone.
The company's sole concern is to ensure the safety of its employees.
There's a matter of some concern that I have to discuss with you.

› [ C or U ] something that involves or affects you or is important to you:

What were the major concerns of the writers from this period?
I don't want to hear about it - it's no concern of mine!
"What's happening?" "That's none of/not any of your concern."
be of concern

› to be important:

The results of the election are of concern to us all.

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(Definition of “concern” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“concern” in American English

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concernverb [ T ]

us ​ /kənˈsɜrn/

concern verb [ T ] (WORRY)

› to trouble someone with feelings of anxiety; worry:

The loss didn’t bother him, but his team’s confidence concerns him.

concern verb [ T ] (INVOLVE)

› to involve someone or something; have to do with:

This is an issue that should concern everyone.

› If a story concerns a particular subject, it tells a story about that subject:

The novel concerns the daily life of a family living in a trailer.

concernnoun

us ​ /kənˈsɜrn/

concern noun (BUSINESS)

› [ C ] fml a company:

He heads a large concern in the midwest.

concern noun (INVOLVEMENT)

› [ U ] a matter of importance esp. because it involves you:

Issues of good and evil are not our primary concern here.
What you do is no concern of mine (= I do not care).

concern noun (WORRY)

› [ C/U ] a worried feeling, or a state of anxiety:

[ C ] Parents expressed a lot of concerns about the changes in school policies.

(Definition of “concern” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

“concern” in Business English

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concernnoun

uk ​ /kənˈsɜːn/ us ​

› [ C ] formal a business or company:

Two of the country's largest steel concerns are considering cuts in production.
See also
going concern

› [ U or C ] the fact of feeling worried about something, or something that makes you worry:

concern about/over sth There was a lot of public concern over the new legislation.
Please raise any concerns regarding this decision with your manager.

concernverb [ T ]

uk ​ /kənˈsɜːn/ us ​

› to be important to someone, or to involve or affect someone:

Managers complained that they were spending too much time going to meetings that didn't actually concern them.

› to worry someone:

If there are issues which concern you, discuss the matter with a specialist financial adviser.

› also be concerned with to be about a particular subject:

Our research is concerned with new forms of work organization.
To whom it may concern

› COMMUNICATIONS a phrase you write at the beginning of a formal or public letter when you do not know exactly who it should be sent to

(Definition of “concern” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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concern

The desire of some of them to withdraw from this consensus not only fills me with concern, but it is also dangerous.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
My first concern is that, whatever their advantages, consumer protection policies are too closely linked to, and therefore overly dependent on, the objective of accelerated creation of a single market.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
All that has really caused us concern up until now is the point concerning everyone's right to direct interpretation which, strictly construed, could have entailed unreasonable costs.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
In some respects it would have been a matter for greater concern if the trauma of a war had not prompted such a heartfelt debate.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
Still others concern preventing social phenomena such as triangulation, and call for strict traceability and labelling procedures to guarantee food safety.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
Firstly, biofuels help to reduce over-dependence on oil-based fuels, which is a cause for concern as regards both the environment and security of supply.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
The concern is that, in some cases, rather than using the national currency as we propose, the euro should be used for everybody.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
Our opinion must, therefore, be neither triumphalistic nor dogmatic, and it must not fail to express our concern, particularly on two points.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
I believe the concern expressed is justified.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
Another pressing concern is the disappearance of, or change in, the range of international trains that is therefore not being identified.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English

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