careful
Americanadjective
-
cautious in one's actions.
Be careful when you cross the street.
- Synonyms:
- circumspect, chary, guarded, watchful
-
taking pains in one's work; exact; thorough.
a careful typist.
- Synonyms:
- scrupulous, meticulous
-
(of things) done or performed with accuracy or caution.
careful research.
- Synonyms:
- rigorous
-
solicitously mindful (usually followed by of, about, orin ).
careful of the rights of others;
careful about one's behavior;
careful in speech.
- Synonyms:
- regardful, heedful, attentive, solicitous, concerned, thoughtful
-
Archaic.
-
full of anxiety or care; troubled.
-
causing or attended with anxiety.
a careful day.
-
adjective
-
cautious in attitude or action; prudent
-
painstaking in one's work; thorough
he wrote very careful script
-
(usually postpositive; foll by of, in, or about) solicitous; protective
careful of one's reputation
-
archaic full of care; anxious
-
mean or miserly
Related Words
Careful, cautious, discreet, wary imply a watchful guarding against something. Careful implies guarding against mistakes, by paying strict and close attention to details, and, often, trying to use good judgment: He was careful to distinguish between them. Cautious implies a fear of some unfavorable situation and investigation before coming to conclusions: cautious about investments. Discreet implies being prudent in speech and action and being trustworthy as a confidant: discreet in manner, in keeping secrets. Wary implies a vigilant lookout for a danger suspected or feared: wary of polite strangers. See painstaking.
Other Word Forms
- carefully adverb
- carefulness noun
- quasi-careful adjective
- ultracareful adjective
Etymology
Origin of careful
First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English carful, cearful; care, -ful
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.
Even as his career has been shaped by politically charged projects, Moura has been careful not to let that define him.
From Los Angeles Times
Thanks to her careful scene-setting, Roper’s arrival and Jonathan’s reaction were shot in only 10 minutes.
From Los Angeles Times
This slow and careful process shaped nearly every fruit and vegetable found in grocery stores today.
From Science Daily
"We really need to be careful, it undermines democracy because people start to question what is true."
From BBC
At the same time, the mathematical foundations behind these constructions are highly advanced and demand careful analytical work.
From Science Daily
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.
