What does concerned mean?
Concerned is an English adjective with two principal senses. In its most common use, it describes a state of worry or anxiety: a person who is concerned feels troubled about someone's welfare, a risk, or an unfolding problem, and the word often appears in phrases like "deeply concerned," "concerned citizens," or "concerned parents." In its second sense, concerned identifies involvement rather than emotion, marking the people or parties implicated in a matter, as in "the parties concerned have agreed to negotiate." The word derives from the verb concern, which traces back to the Latin concernere, meaning to sift or mix together, via the same root that gives us discern and certain. Because it can express both caring attention and formal participation, concerned serves as a versatile bridge between personal feeling and institutional language, making it one of the most frequently used adjectives in news reporting, official statements, and everyday conversation alike.
adjectiveFeeling or showing worry or anxiety about a situation or someone's welfare; or involved in or affected by something.
- Worried or anxious about someone or something (e.g., 'concerned parents').
- Involved in or responsible for something (e.g., 'the parties concerned').
"Her parents were deeply concerned about her safety during the storm."
"Doctors are concerned that the patient's symptoms may indicate a more serious condition."
"All parties concerned met on Friday to resolve the dispute."
The word for "worried" literally comes from a Latin verb meaning "to sift together" — as if your thoughts were being shaken through a sieve.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of concerned
Concerned comes from the verb concern, which entered English in the early 17th century from French concerner, ultimately from the Latin concernere, formed from com- (together) and cernere (to sift, separate, or perceive). The original image was of things sifted or mixed together, which evolved into the sense of relating to or affecting someone. It shares this Latin root cernere with words such as discern, discernment, and, more distantly, certain and concert.
Related word forms
How concerned is actually used
"Concerned" is neutral-to-serious in tone and common in both formal writing and everyday speech. The idiom "as far as X is concerned" means "with respect to X." When it follows a noun directly (e.g., "the parties concerned"), it carries the "involved" sense rather than the emotional one.
Easily confused with concerned
"Concerned" is an adjective describing worry or involvement, while "concerning" is a preposition meaning "about" or "regarding" a topic.