From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishconcerncon‧cern1 /kənˈsɜːn $ -ɜːrn/ ●●● S3 W1 noun 1 worry a) [uncountable]WORRIED a feeling of worry about something important The recent rise in crime is a matter of considerable public concern.concern for our concern for human rightsconcern about/over/with the rise of concern about the environment the growing concern over inflation concern with worsening law and orderconcern that increased concern that the war could continue for a long timebe a cause for concern/cause concern The activities of the far right have been a cause for concern for a while now. In her last days the poet expressed concern for her father. b) [countable]WORRIED something that worries you One of the concerns that people have is the side effects of treatment. Education remains the electorate’s main concern. the concerns expressed by parents2 something important [countable, uncountable]IMPORTANT something that is important to you or that involves you His main concern is to be able to provide for his family.concern for The consumer has become a major concern for this government.of concern to somebody topics of concern to television viewers3 feeling for somebody [singular, uncountable]LOVE a feeling of wanting someone to be happy and healthy He was moved by her obvious concern.concern for parents’ loving concern for their children4 → somebody’s concern5 → not somebody’s concern/none of somebody’s concern6 business [countable]BBC a business or company The restaurant is a family concern. We will continue to run the company as a going concern (=a business that is financially successful).COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: verbscause concernThe announcement will cause concern in the Middle East.feel concernA lot of people felt some concern about the proposal.express concernPolice officials expressed concern about robberies, which have increased by 23%.voice concern formal (=express concern)Some people have voiced concern about the state of the president's health.raise concerns formal:The incident has raised concerns over safety at the power station.phrasesbe of concernOf course, this is of great concern to parents.be a cause for concernRising global temperatures are a cause for serious concern.be a matter of concernElderly people in particular feel that crime is a matter of concern for them.amid concern that/over something (=because there is concern about something)Shares fell slightly amid concern that the economy is slowing.adjectivesgreat/serious/considerable concernThe spread of the disease is an issue of considerable concern.grave concern (=very great concern)This disagreement was a matter of grave concern to the US.a real/genuine concernPensions are a genuine concern to many people.a particular concernNoise is a particular concern of those living near the airport.growing/mounting concernGrowing concern has been expressed over the pollution of the North Sea.a common concern (=one that many people share)Rising food prices are a common concern.public concern (=felt by the public)Public concern about the destruction of the rain forests could harm the timber business.national concernThe lack of good cheap public transport is a matter of national concern.widespread concernThere seems to be widespread concern about the state of our hospitals. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: something that is important to you or that involves youadjectivessomebody's main/biggest concernMy main concern is my children.somebody's primary/chief/principal concernThe president said his primary concern was the welfare of the American people.somebody's central concernOur organization's central concern is to help people at all levels of society.somebody's overriding concern (=much more important than anything else)An artist's overriding concern is to achieve the highest standard possible.somebody's only/sole concernRick's only concern was having a good time at the weekend.somebody's present/immediate concernHer two immediate concerns were to find a home and a job.
Examples from the Corpus
concern• The committee brushed aside concerns about racism and prejudice in local government.• Raytheon is a defense contractor and engineering concern.• The most obvious: His expressed concern for the environment and his disdain for technology.• Scientists interviewed Thursday expressed concern about any weakening of the concrete beneath the Waterford, Conn., plant.• Mark's family is his first concern.• The rigidity in tone and approach of the syllabuses and materials is also a matter for concern.• This is a matter of grave concern to the hospital management.• My main concern is that the project won't be finished on time.• The hospital's main concern is that doctors are overworked.• I did voice my concern about the financial management, but was told to stay quiet.• In April 1990 reforms came into operation which addressed the first but not the second elements of concern outlined above.• My only concern about the match is that Price will be fit enough to take part.• The failure to recognise the difference between public concern about standards and public concern about price is what makes the Bill deficient.• The incident has raised concerns that the government may retaliate.• The survey suggests that rising crime is the top of the average American's concerns.• Throughout these three arguments is the same social concern noted in the previous cluster.• There is also some concern about the safety of the structure.• Lopez thanked them for their concern.• Then Arab oil became the focus of Western concern, particularly following the 1973 war.• The shortage of water is beginning to cause widespread concern.concerns expressed• Following concerns expressed by the Visiting Group, a consultant has made a report on environmental conditions in the Library.• The move follows a growing number of concerns expressed by parents of dyslexic children who claim adequate schooling is not always offered.• Of course I appreciate the concerns expressed by the hon. Member for Londonderry, East on behalf of his constituents.• But the survey also underscores some of the concerns expressed by opponents of doctor-assisted suicide.of concern to somebody• But it's power also of concern to those who are responsible for the planning and leading of worship.• Philip appears to have only one problem which is the cause of concern to parents and teacher.• Are there no instances where the elite truly loses on a policy decision of concern to its members?• That issue is of concern to all members, not just Council.• On the other hand, the output level of manufactured products, which is of concern to consumers, is well determined.• This is the question of self-regulation, which is of concern to the Institute's practising members, particularly smaller firms.• Issues of concern to key powerholders at the top of organizations have also changed dramatically during the 1980s.• Since money had long since ceased to be a matter of concern to Wendell Harvey, he never stinted on spending it.a going concern• The company shall be presumed to be carrying on its business as a going concern.• In January 1987 she went to live in Tenerife and on 8 May 1987 she sold the business as a going concern.• There is doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern.• The possibility that parts of the business could be sold off as a going concern should not be overlooked.• The factors which, if present, indicate the transfer as a going concern largely relate to intangible assets.• Although its assets are notionally worth £10 billion, their market value as a going concern must be far less.• But you and I know the Soviet Union is a going concern.• To tell her that she and Piers were now a going concern?• Prides Hill Kennels was a going concern.concernconcern2 ●●○ W3 verb [transitive] 1 [not in passive]ABOUT if a story, book, report etc concerns someone or something, it is about them This study concerns couples’ expectations of marriage. The report concerns the drug traffic on the Mexican–US border.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say something is about something or, in British English, is/has to do with something, rather than say it concerns something:The book is about women’s experiences of war.2 WORRIEDto make someone feel worried or upset Issues like food additives do concern me.3 EFFECT/INFLUENCEif an activity, situation, rule etc concerns you, it affects you or involves you The tax changes will concern large corporations rather than small businesses.Grammar Concern is never passive in this meaning.4 → concern yourself with/about something5 → to whom it may concern→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
concern• Why are you concerning yourself about these matters? she queried mentally while staring at the typewriter.• We are deeply concerned by America's neglect of its youth.• Much of the material in her early letters concerns events which happened some years before.• Kate's behaviour at school is starting to concern her parents.• The tax changes will concern large corporations more than small businesses.• Many of Woody Allen's movies concern life in New York.• The potential for abuse of these products concerns me a great deal.• What concerns me most is that despite pay increases, production has not improved.• It concerns me that some tutors are meeting with students outside college hours.• It concerned the assassination of foreign leaders from a philosophical point of view.From Longman Business Dictionaryconcerncon‧cern /kənˈsɜːn-ɜːrn/ noun [countable] formalCOMMERCE a business organization, usually a companythe French defense and electronics concern, Matra SA → going concernOrigin concern2 (1300-1400) French concerner, from Late Latin concernere “to mix together”, from Latin com- ( → COM-) + cernere “to sift” 