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
- 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 costumes were carefully assembled and sometimes improvised.
From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026
"When they arrived they were really shocked. They looked through the bag carefully and hurriedly took them away," he told the newspaper.
From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026
When I met Cook, handlers in white gloves were carefully arranging the curated items on pristine wood tables, as if they were for sale in an Apple Store.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
It’s a good thing you looked over your return carefully when your preparer sent it back to you.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
Clare fed the hungry flame with twigs and leaves, carefully giving it what it needed to grow but not a sprig more.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
