carefully
adverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈkɛːf(ə)li//
- United States//ˈkɛɹf(ə)li//
With care; attentively, circumspectly.
adverb
- 1
obsoleteSorrowfully.
[…] there was she faine / To call them all in order to her ayde, / And them conjure, upon eternall paine, / To counsell her, so carefully dismayd, / How she might heale her sonne […]
- 2
With care; attentively, circumspectly.
As he was a politician, he discussed all subjects carefully, not offending anyone.
He carefully studied the papers, while planning his next move.
He carefully avoided the subject all evening.
Then his sallow face brightened, for the hall had been carefully furnished, and was very clean. ¶ There was a neat hat-and-umbrella stand, and the stranger's weary feet fell soft on a good, serviceable dark-red drugget, which matched in colour the flock-paper on the walls.
- 3
Conscientiously, painstakingly, fastidiously, meticulously
Etymology
From Middle English carfulli, carefulliche, from Old English carfullīċe, ċearfullīċe (“carefully, diligently”), equivalent to careful + -ly.
Forms
- comparative
- more carefully
- superlative
- most carefully
carefully · With care; attentively, circumspectly.
careless · Not concerned or worried (about).caress · An act of endearment; any act or expression of affection; an…caretaker · Someone who takes care of a place or thing; someone looking…