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!

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Other Word Forms

• quasi-safely adverb
• supersafely adverb
• unsafely adverb

Etymology

Origin of safely

safe + -ly

Example Sentences

I assumed that uploading documents to a “secure vault” meant they would be handled safely.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

"The next step to further this research is conducting randomized trials to determine if therapies that lower the impact of cortisol can safely and effectively treat high blood pressure in these patients."

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

The police said it was deploying a "significant" presence to ensure the protests passed off safely, though no far-right counter-demonstration was advertised.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

If it proves to work safely, the drug would give Merck a boost as it prepares for its top-selling drug, Keytruda, to lose patent protection.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

I kept sneaking glances at Klawde, safely back in his cat carrier.

From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth

Related Words

• carefully
• cautiously
• harmlessly