Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for carefully. Search instead for Carefulli.
Synonyms

carefully

American  
[kair-fuh-lee] / ˈkɛər fə li /

adverb

  1. in a cautious way, with attention to possible risks and dangers.

    Although somewhat "folksy" in his interview, the congressman carefully avoided pitfalls where he would be vulnerable to attack.

  2. in a thorough, attentive, or painstaking way, giving thought to avoiding errors or omissions.

    I have to carefully examine the copy editor's marked-up manuscript, double-checking everything and approving or vetoing changes.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of carefully

First recorded before 1000; careful ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Explanation

Carefully means cautiously or painstakingly. If you carefully study your vocabulary words, you'll ace your next quiz! This adverb comes from the Old English carfullice — but before coming to mean "in a way that avoids harm," it meant "sorrowfully." In fact, the very oldest meaning of care was "to be anxious or to grieve." These days, you don't cry when you do something carefully. You just take your time and make sure you're doing it right and that no one's being harmed by it, like when you check carefully behind your car for the neighbor's cat before you back out of the driveway.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing carefully

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The May PCE report isn’t likely to be taken for granted by the market; it will be combed carefully and methodically for signs to either add to or dial back rate-hike bets.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 24, 2026

The change has been evolutionary, not revolutionary, as agencies revise and defend their rules more carefully, rather than watch them swept away.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026

Researchers then use carefully tuned lasers to remove energy from the atoms.

From Science Daily • Jun. 23, 2026

They must carefully choose which problems to tackle and which approaches to try.

From Slate • Jun. 22, 2026

I closed the door carefully so no traveler would think it was empty, and took Patch’s hand in mine.

From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "carefully" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com