Synonyms

carefully

American

[kair-fuh-lee] / ˈkɛər fə li /

adverb

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.
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

quasi-carefully adverb
ultracarefully adverb

Etymology

Origin of carefully

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

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.

His opening was carefully built around that distinction.

From Slate • Apr. 10, 2026

He had already filmed The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer, but Channel 4 said it had "carefully considered the circumstances" and "taken the decision not to air" the episode featuring him.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

He does so carefully, and perhaps a tad too slowly.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

The site was almost entirely excavated and carefully recorded using modern archaeological techniques, preserving a clear picture of its original layout.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

Then he knelt, retrieved mittens from my bag, and gently slid them over my hands, carefully adjusting the cuffs under my sweater sleeves.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023