concerning

1 of 2

preposition

con·​cern·​ing kən-ˈsər-niŋ How to pronounce concerning (audio)
: relating to : regarding

concerning

2 of 2

adjective

: causing concern or worry : creating reason for concern : troubling
found the latest reports very concerning
"It's extremely concerning that drivers still choose to give their attention to things other than the road when they're behind the wheel," said [Texas Department of Transportation] Executive Director James Bass.The Nueces County Record Star
… carbapenems should not be administered to patients with positive penicillin skin test results or a concerning history of a type I allergic response to penicillin.Alan R. Salkind et al.
concerningly adverb
Of course, South Carolina roads are also concerningly dangerous for sober drivers. In 2015, the state ranked 7th for traffic deaths overall … The Post & Courier [Charleston, South Carolina]
"The waivers have driven destruction in Native American burial sites. They have killed thousands of species and fragmented habitat. Most concerningly, there is zero accountability or consequence for these outcomes." Gloria Smith

Examples of concerning in a Sentence

Preposition we had a meeting with the principal today concerning the new policy on student-run organizations
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Recent data from the CDC paints a concerning picture: While overall HIV infections among Black women have remained stable, the disparity in new HIV infections persists and, in some cases, worsens. Larada Lee, Essence, 9 Mar. 2024 There was a concerning moment in the second half as Messi went down clutching his leg following a heavy challenge from Lukas MacNaughton as the defender made a clearance, but the Argentine eventually got back to his feet after lengthy treatment. Matias Grez, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 As The Hollywood Reporter detailed in an August 2022 cover story, longtime producers Debmar-Mercury made the decision to pull the plug following a concerning 2021 Zoom session with Williams. Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2024 So those are the kinds of things that are probably more concerning. Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Even more concerning, the legal reasoning cited by the court calls into question the very existence of the CFPB, referencing a ruling from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Carolina Martinez, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Sunday night through Monday is expected to be the most concerning, with risks lasting perhaps into Tuesday. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Online hoaxes, misinformation and smear campaigns were rampant during the 2019 election and with the rise and advancement of AI technology, experts say the situation has grown more concerning. Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 12 Feb. 2024 At least one of the drivers behind the viral videos was only doing it for laughs, a revelation that is even more concerning when considering that there were other people on the road. Jody Serrano / Gizmodo, Quartz, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'concerning.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Preposition

1535, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1740, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of concerning was in 1535

Dictionary Entries Near concerning

Cite this Entry

“Concerning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/concerning. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

concerning

preposition
con·​cern·​ing
kən-ˈsər-niŋ
: relating to : about
news concerning friends

More from Merriam-Webster on concerning

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!