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. )

Example Sentences

Still, the benchmarks are lower on the week as the market cautiously watches efforts toward talks to end the conflict.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

McCarthy, who’s road-tripped from his home in New York City, proceeds cautiously, stepping gently around the mess and breaking down boxes.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

The Manhattan hearing comes as Washington cautiously warms ties with Caracas, with the question of who will pay the legal fees of the former autocrat and his wife expected to take center stage.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Sheinbaum cautiously welcomed the tacit acknowledgement of Spain's past actions, saying: "One could say that it is not everything we would have wanted but it is a gesture of reconciliation."

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

Arjun, my eldest son, was sitting next to the man, cautiously tapping the drum with three fingers as he had been shown.

From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya

Related Words

• carefully
• slowly