We often hear that disk space is cheap and that we should not be too concerned if databases are growing at an excessive rate. Just buy more disks. [excessive = /ɪkˈsɛsɪv/ much more than is reasonable or necessary]
concern
verb /kən'sɝn/
1
[not in passive] if a story, book, report etc concerns someone or something, it is about them.
to relate to (something or someone) : to be about (something or someone).
to be about sth.
If a story, film or article concerns a particular subject, person, etc., it is about that person or subject.
(never passive) to be about a particular subject.
If something such as a book or a piece of information concerns a particular subject, it is about that subject.
This study concerns couples’ expectations of marriage.
The report concerns the drug traffic on the Mexican–US border.
Register
In 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.
The novel concerns three soldiers.
This study concerns the noise levels in cities.
The story concerns the prince's efforts to rescue Pamina.
The book is primarily concerned with Soviet-American relations during the Cold War.
This chapter concerns itself with the historical background.
One major difference between these computers concerns the way in which they store information.
The film concerns a woman who goes to China as a missionary. [missionary = /'mɪʃənɛri/ noun, someone who has been sent to a foreign country to teach people about Christianity and persuade them to become Christians]
The story concerns a man who was a friend of mine.
The bulk of the book concerns Sandy's two middle-aged children. [the bulk (of something) the main or largest part of something]
Chapter 2 concerns itself with the methodological difficulties.
2
to make someone feel worried or upset.
to make (someone) worried.
to cause concern for (someone).
to worry sb.
to think it is important to do sth.
to cause worry to someone.
(never passive) to worry someone.
If something concerns you, it worries you.
Issues like food additives /'ædətɪv/ do concern me.
Our mother's illness concerns us.
What concerns me is our lack of preparation for the change.
It concerns me that you no longer seem to care.
She was concerned to write about situations that everybody could identify with.
The state of my father's health concerns us greatly.
It concerns me that he hasn't been in contact.
Common Learner Errors
Warning: do not confuse the verb concern with the adjective concerned:
✗ These days, people are concern about their health.
• These days, people are concerned about their health.
It concerns me that these people are not getting the support they need.
We want to know about the issues that concern you, the voters.
The growing number of people seeking refuge in Thailand is beginning to concern Western aid agencies.
It concerned her that Bess was developing a crush on Max. [crush = /krʌʃ/ noun, 2). a strong feeling of romantic love for someone, especially one that a young person has for someone older who they do not know well]
3
if an activity, situation, rule etc concerns you, it affects you or involves you.
to affect sb/sth; to involve sb/sth.
to be important to someone or to involve someone directly.
(never progressive) to involve or affect someone.
If a situation, event, or activity concerns you, it affects or involves you.
GRAMMAR Concern is never passive in this meaning
The tax changes will concern large corporations rather than small businesses.
Don't interfere in what doesn't concern you.
The loss was a tragedy for all concerned(= all those affected by it). [tragedy = /'trædʒədi/ noun, a very sad event, that shocks people because it involves death]
Where our children's education is concerned, no compromise /'kɑmprəmaɪz/ is acceptable.
The individuals concerned have some explaining to do.
Everyone who was directly concerned in(= had some responsibility for) the incident has now resigned.
Please pay attention because this information concerns all of you.
Matters of pollution and the environment concern us all.
What I have to say to Amy doesn't concern you.
My past doesn’t concern you.
These changes concern everyone who has children of school age.
It was just a little unfinished business from my past, and it doesn't concern you at all.
4
concern yourself with/about something
to become involved in something because you are interested in it or because it worries you.
to affect or involve (someone).
to be the business or interest of (someone).
to become involved or interested in something.
to give your attention to something.
to take an interest in sth.
to become involved with something, or worried about something.
to become involved or interested in something : to give your attention to something.
If you concern yourself with something, you give it attention because you think that it is important.
He told them not to concern themselves about him.
He loved his wife, and concerned himself with her needs and desires.
The problem concerns [=affects] us all.
This conversation doesn't concern you.
She can handle the problem alone. There's no need for you to concern yourself.
There's no need for you to concern yourself with/in her problem.
They shouldn't concern themselves with/about small details.
He didn't concern himself with the details.
There's no need for you to concern yourself with what happened.
Don't concern yourself. She'll be home soon.
She can handle the problem alone. There's no need for you to concern yourself.
There's no need for you to concern yourself with/in her problem.
They shouldn't concern themselves with/about small details.
I didn't concern myself with politics.
He would concern himself solely with the plight of the hostages. [plight = /plaɪt/ noun, a very bad situation that someone is in] [hostage = /'hɑstɪdʒ/ noun, someone who is kept as a prisoner by an enemy so that the other side will do what the enemy demands → kidnap]
5
to whom it may concern
an expression written at the beginning of a formal letter when you do not know the name of the person you want to communicate with.
is used at the beginning of a formal letter (such as a letter written to a company) when the name of the person who will read the letter is not known.
used for example, at the beginning of a public notice or of a job reference about sb's character and ability.
something you write at the start of a formal letter or notice when you do not know exactly who it should be sent to
used for beginning a very formal letter that is not written to a particular person.
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