cautiously

American  

[kaw-shuhs-lee] / ˈkɔ ʃəs li /

adverb

1. in a way that shows alertness and prudence in a hazardous or uncertain situation; carefully; warily.

   He stepped cautiously onto the loose planks.

   I am cautiously optimistic that both parties will accept the compromise.

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Other Word Forms

• hypercautiously
  adverb
• ultracautiously
  adverb
• uncautiously
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of cautiously

First recorded in 1610–20; cautious ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Explanation

Acting cautiously means being careful and hesitant, the way you step cautiously into the first dark room of a haunted house. Whenever you use caution as you do something, you're behaving cautiously. The Latin root, cautio, means "caution, care, or foresight." Thinking through possible dangers of a situation, or considering any problems that might come up, is acting cautiously. You should approach that cow cautiously; she kicked the last person who tried to milk her!

Example Sentences

Cautiously choosing his words, Mr Lonzi tells the BBC that Mr Mandela gave the people of South Africa political freedom, but he failed to give them economic freedom.

From BBC • Dec. 5, 2023

Cautiously, the visitors stepped forward to look at the busy, bustling world vibrating inside.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 14, 2021

Cautiously, Spencer’s girlfriend and two friends he had recent contact with are in quarantine, and The Gutter was closed Thursday to stay on the safe side.

From Salon • Oct. 24, 2014

Cautiously hopeful, Michael Foley and his parents, John and Diane, turned over the email to the agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation assigned to their case.

From New York Times • Sep. 15, 2014

Cautiously she pulled on the door and stared out.

From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen

Related Words

• carefully
• slowly