True synonyms — a style difference, not a meaning difference
Unlike the other verb pairs in this group, take care of and look after mean exactly the same thing: to be responsible for someone or something's wellbeing. The difference here isn't meaning — it's style.
| Expression | General idea | Style note |
|---|---|---|
| TAKE CARE OF | To be responsible for someone/something's wellbeing. | Neutral. Common in both British and American English. |
| LOOK AFTER | To be responsible for someone/something's wellbeing. | More common in British English; sounds slightly more everyday in conversation. |
Fully interchangeable:
"Can you take care of my dog this weekend?" and "Can you look after my dog this weekend?" are both correct, both natural, and mean exactly the same thing.
Common contexts
| TAKE CARE OF | LOOK AFTER |
|---|---|
| take care of the children | look after the children |
| take care of a pet | look after a pet |
| take care of the elderly | look after the elderly |
| take care of your health | look after your health |
| take care of the house / plants | look after the house / plants |
| take care of the details | look after the details |
Examples in sentences:
She takes care of her grandmother every weekend.
Can you look after the kids tonight?
Don't worry, I'll take care of everything.
Who's looking after the dog while you're away?
She takes care of her grandmother every weekend.
Can you look after the kids tonight?
Don't worry, I'll take care of everything.
Who's looking after the dog while you're away?
Exercises
Complete with "take care of" or "look after" — both are correct, but follow the word given in brackets.
1.Can you __ (look) my plants while I'm on holiday?
2.He needs to __ (take) his diet more seriously.
3.My sister __ (look) our parents' house every summer.
4. Which statement about these two expressions is true?