safely

American  

[seyf-lee] / ˈseɪf li /

adverb

1. without harm or injury.

   The travel team has arrived safely and on schedule.

2. without risk or danger.

   While we sit safely in our air-conditioned homes complaining, he’s driving across the country working for change.

3. in a way that protects from loss, damage, or harm.

   I wanted that piece of paper safely filed away, just in case I needed to look at it again.

4. without likelihood of being wrong; with reasonable assurance.

   I think we can safely say that the zoo expects some puma kittens later this year!

---

Other Word Forms

• quasi-safely adverb
• supersafely adverb
• unsafely adverb

Etymology

Origin of safely

safe + -ly

Example Sentences

“It is shameful that the city’s richest hospitals refuse to continue healthcare benefits for frontline nurses, refuse to staff safely for our patients, and refuse to protect us from workplace violence.”

From The Wall Street Journal

"There will be hundreds more in order to allow our ICE and our Border Patrol individuals that are working in Minneapolis to do so safely."

From Barron's

AbbVie is making a pricey bet that they will prove to work safely—no sure thing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Bass, for her part, said Tuesday that she is using the full extent of her mayoral powers to “restore the Palisades community and return families home as quickly and safely as possible.”

From Los Angeles Times

He urged protesters to demonstrate safely and lawfully “to ensure that we do not have any further tragedy in the city.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• carefully
• cautiously
• harmlessly