carefully
Americanadverb
-
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
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.
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.
With studios struggling to draw audiences to theaters, she thinks carefully about whether a movie can actually connect with moviegoers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2026
A patch of the flowers was carefully dug up at a site on the coast where it has been eroded away by the sea over the last few years.
From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2026
The tests will take place in a carefully planned sequence.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 9, 2026
“Every inch of the home has been carefully curated, blending sophisticated finishes with cutting-edge technology to create a living experience that is both luxurious and effortless.”
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 9, 2026
Then the bird closest to the berries in each row would take a berry carefully and hold it out to the bird next to him in his beak.
From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen
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