concern
concern
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "concern" is /kənˈsɜːrn/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
kən:
/k/: Voiceless velar stop
/ə/: Schwa (mid-central vowel)
/n/: Alveolar nasal
ˈsɜːrn:
/s/: Voiceless alveolar fricative
/ɜː/: Open-mid central rounded vowel (as in "bird")
/r/: Voiced alveolar approximant
/n/: Alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
Concern" functions as both a noun and a verb.
Noun Forms:
Singular: concern (e.g., "My main concern is your safety.")
Plural: concerns (e.g., "The committee addressed several concerns.")
Verb Forms:
Base Form: concern (e.g., "This issue does not concern me.")
Third-person singular present: concerns (e.g., "It concerns everyone.")
Present participle: concerning (e.g., "He is concerning himself with trivial matters.")
Past tense: concerned (e.g., "She was concerned about the results.")
Past participle: concerned (e.g., "The matter has been concerned with.")
Related Forms:
Adjective: concerned (e.g., "I'm very concerned about him.")
Adjective: concerning (e.g., "That's a concerning development.")
Adverb: concernedly (e.g., "She looked at him concernedly.")
Preposition/Adverbial Phrase: concerning (e.g., "Concerning your request...")
Concern" functions as both a noun and a verb.
Noun Forms:
Singular: concern (e.g., "My main concern is your safety.")
Plural: concerns (e.g., "The committee addressed several concerns.")
Verb Forms:
Base Form: concern (e.g., "This issue does not concern me.")
Third-person singular present: concerns (e.g., "It concerns everyone.")
Present participle: concerning (e.g., "He is concerning himself with trivial matters.")
Past tense: concerned (e.g., "She was concerned about the results.")
Past participle: concerned (e.g., "The matter has been concerned with.")
Related Forms:
Adjective: concerned (e.g., "I'm very concerned about him.")
Adjective: concerning (e.g., "That's a concerning development.")
Adverb: concernedly (e.g., "She looked at him concernedly.")
Preposition/Adverbial Phrase: concerning (e.g., "Concerning your request...")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun Definitions
A matter of interest or importance to someone; something that relates to or affects someone or something.
Synonyms: Matter, issue, affair, business, responsibility, interest, relevance
Antonyms: Irrelevance, unimportance, trifle, triviality
Anxiety, worry, or solicitude.
Synonyms: Worry, anxiety, apprehension, unease, misgiving, solicitude, disquiet
Antonyms: Calm, peace, composure, indifference, reassurance, confidence
A business or firm.
Synonyms: Business, firm, company, enterprise, establishment, operation
Antonyms: Individual, sole proprietorship
Verb Definitions
To relate to; be about.
Synonyms: Involve, affect, regard, pertain to, relate to, bear on
Antonyms: Disregard, ignore, exclude, be irrelevant to
To cause anxiety or worry to.
Synonyms: Worry, trouble, bother, perturb, distress, alarm, disquiet
Antonyms: Reassure, comfort, calm, soothe, alleviate
Examples of Use
Books
"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." (Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina, 1877) - This highlights a universal concern for happiness.
"My only concern was for the safety of my children during the storm." (Common in fiction portraying parental worries)
Newspapers and Online Publications
"The primary concern for policymakers remains rising inflation and its impact on household budgets." (Financial Times)
"Environmental activists expressed grave concern over the proposed logging project." (The Guardian)
"This article primarily concerns the latest advancements in artificial intelligence." (Wired)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Film: In Contagion (2011), a major plot point is the global concern about the spread of a deadly virus.
Television: "Your reckless behavior has become a serious concern to the whole team." (Heard in workplace dramas or family-focused shows)
Music: Many protest songs express a concern for social justice or political issues.
Video Games: Players often discuss their concerns about game balance, bugs, or future updates on community forums.
General Public Discourse
"My biggest concern about the new proposal is its long-term cost." (Everyday conversation about plans or projects)
"This matter does not concern you, so please stay out of it." (Directly telling someone something isn't their business)
"Are you still feeling that cough? I'm quite concerned." (Expressing worry for someone's health)
"The meeting concerns the upcoming budget review." (Stating the topic of a discussion)
10 Quotes Using Concern
"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of freedom, it produces enslavement." (Martin Luther King Jr.) - This quote highlights the core concern of violence.
"What a man can be, he must be. This need we call self-actualization." (Abraham Maslow) - This implies the deep human concern for fulfilling potential.
"Never, never, never give up." (Winston Churchill) - This speaks to the unwavering spirit required when facing a concern.
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." (Martin Luther King Jr.) - This emphasizes the importance of voicing one's concern.
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." (Often attributed to Charles Darwin) - A species' ability to adapt is a primary concern for survival.
"The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement." (Helmut Schmidt) - This relates to the concern for progress.
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) - This reflects the concern for authenticity.
"My primary concern is always the welfare of the children." (A common statement from parents or guardians)
"The public's greatest concern is often safety and security." (Original)
"Your health is my foremost concern." (Original)
Etymology
The word "concern" comes from the Latin verb "concernere," which meant "to mix together" or "to pertain to." This Latin word is formed from "con-" (meaning "together" or "with") and "cernere" (meaning "to sift," "to distinguish," or "to perceive").
So, at its root, "concern" is about things being woven together or relating to each other in a discernible way.
The first known use of "concern" in English, appearing around the late 14th century, referred to that which belongs or pertains to one; a matter of interest or importance. This meaning of something being relevant or affecting someone is very close to how we use it today. The sense of "worry" developed later, from the idea of a matter being important enough to cause anxiety.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Concern
Of no concern: Of no importance or relevance.
Example: "His opinion was of no concern to me."
Cause for concern: A reason to worry or be anxious.
Example: "The rising crime rate is a serious cause for concern."
Express concern: To show or voice worry or apprehension.
Example: "Many parents expressed concern about the school's new policy."
Beyond one's concern: Not within one's area of responsibility or interest.
Example: "The company's internal politics are beyond my concern."
The least of one's concerns: The least important or worrying of one's problems.
Example: "With all these bills, finding a new shirt is the least of my concerns."
Trouble on the mind: (Using a synonym, meaning a worry or anxiety).
Example: "He's had a lot of trouble on his mind lately."
Heavy heart: (An idiom expressing sadness or worry).
Example: "She left the old house with a heavy heart."
Preoccupation with: (Meaning an obsessive concern or focus on something).
Example: "His preoccupation with his health became unhealthy."
A matter of interest: (A less formal synonym for a concern, implying relevance).
Example: "That new art exhibit is a real matter of interest to me."
Not my circus, not my monkeys: (An informal idiom meaning a problem or situation is not one's concern or responsibility).
Example: "When it comes to their office drama, it's not my circus, not my monkeys."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of concern from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
