caretaker
/ˈkeəteɪkə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkerteɪkər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈker-ˌtā-kər/ (ame, mw)
caretaker — noun
- caretakersingular
- caretakersplural
1. a person whose job is to look after a large building such as a school, hospital,
a person whose job is to look after a large building such as a school, hospital, or apartment block, doing cleaning, minor repairs, and other daily tasks to keep the building running smoothly.
The school caretaker unlocked the gymnasium doors every morning at six o'clock.
the school caretaker — role at a specific institution
Simone asked the caretaker to fix the broken window in the science lab before the next class.
asked the caretaker to fix — typical request to a caretaker
After the heavy rain, the caretaker mopped the hallway and placed wet-floor signs around the entrance.
- janitor
more common in American English; focuses on cleaning rather than overall maintenance
- custodian
similar to janitor but slightly more formal; often used for schools in the US
- superintendent
used for apartment buildings; involves more management duties
文法句型
the caretaker
a caretaker
caretaker + of + building
用法筆記
In British English this sense is very common; in American English the word 'janitor' or 'custodian' is more frequent for the same role.
常見錯誤
2. a person who looks after a family member or friend who is ill, elderly, or has a
a person who looks after a family member or friend who is ill, elderly, or has a disability, usually without formal training and often living in the same home.
Since her mother's stroke, Lucia has been the family's primary caretaker, handling meals and medication.
primary caretaker — the main person responsible for care
The hospital offers free support groups for caretakers of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
caretakers of patients with [condition]
Rohan took a leave from his job to become a full-time caretaker for his aging father.
文法句型
caretaker + of + person
primary caretaker
full-time caretaker
用法筆記
Increasingly replaced by 'caregiver' (especially in US English) and 'carer' (in UK English) in healthcare contexts, though 'caretaker' is still widely used in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
3. a person who stays in and looks after a house, farm, or piece of land while the
a person who stays in and looks after a house, farm, or piece of land while the owner is away, often living on the property during that time.
We hired a caretaker to water the garden and feed our two cats while we spent the summer in Japan.
hired a caretaker to [specific tasks] — typical arrangement
The remote mountain cabin comes with a resident caretaker who keeps the road clear during winter.
resident caretaker — a caretaker living on site
Kwame worked as a caretaker for a vineyard in Napa Valley, checking the irrigation system and locking the gates each evening.
- house sitter
less formal; usually only involves living in the house, not maintaining land
- custodian
more formal; often used for estates or historic properties
文法句型
caretaker + of + property
resident caretaker
act as caretaker
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: a property caretaker looks after a private home or land temporarily while the owner is absent, rather than being a permanent employee of a large institution.
4. a person or group that temporarily performs the duties of an important position
a person or group that temporarily performs the duties of an important position or office until a permanent replacement is chosen, with the goal of maintaining stability during the transition.
After the prime minister resigned, a caretaker government was formed to run the country until the election.
caretaker government — political sense, temporary administration
Professor Anders agreed to serve as caretaker dean while the university searched for a permanent candidate.
serve as caretaker [role] — temporary appointment to a leadership role
The board appointed a caretaker manager to oversee daily operations during the restructuring period.
- interim
the most common synonym; 'interim manager' is more widely used than 'caretaker manager' in business
- acting
suggests the person is already a member of the organization filling in temporarily
- provisional
more formal; often used for temporary political bodies or arrangements
- permanent
a permanent official has the role on an ongoing basis, unlike a caretaker
文法句型
caretaker + government/manager/director
caretaker role
caretaker period
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used attributively before a noun (caretaker government, caretaker manager, caretaker committee) rather than as a standalone noun (*'He is a caretaker' for this sense is rare).