warily
Americanadverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of warily
Explanation
When you do things warily, you're cautious and concerned. Behaving warily is like treating the situation with kid gloves. There are a lot of things in life that should be approached warily — like bear cubs, for example. (Actually, they shouldn't be approached at all). Delivering bad news is done warily. People drive warily on ice, and they walk warily on ice, too. When you're acting warily — in other words, being wary — you're worried about what could happen, so you're careful and you take precautions.
Vocabulary lists containing warily
List 5
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Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam
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The Dragonet Prophecy
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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.
Warily, she picked up a piece of glistening dough and pressed it down into the cheese mixture, knowing instinctively to turn it over to make sure every inch was coated.
From Salon • Dec. 24, 2021
Warily, they separate and flow around the quarrel, reuniting in chattering parties at the other side.
From The Guardian • Feb. 22, 2020
Warily, almost grudgingly, something that had been tightly compressed unfurled in her, and she allowed herself to know that the place was lovely.
From The New Yorker • Sep. 10, 2018
Warily, Setrakian makes an informal alliance because he thinks the Ancients can help him get his paws on the tome called the Occido Lumen.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 13, 2015
Warily, he walked all the way around the horse.
From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
