Dictionary
careful
adjective care·ful \-fəl\
: using care
: made, done, or said with care
care·ful·lercare·ful·lest
Full Definition of CAREFUL
1
2
: exercising or taking care
3
a : marked by attentive concern and solicitude b : marked by wary caution or prudence <be very careful with knives> c : marked by painstaking effort to avoid errors or omissions —often used with of or an infinitive <careful of money> <careful to adjust the machine>
— care·ful·ly \-f(ə-)lē\ adverb
— care·ful·ness \-fəl-nəs\ noun
See careful defined for English-language learners
See careful defined for kids
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First Known Use of CAREFUL
before 12th century
Related to CAREFUL
- Synonyms
- alert, cautious, chary, circumspect, conservative, considerate, gingerly, guarded, heedful, safe, wary
Synonym Discussion of CAREFUL
careful, meticulous, scrupulous, punctilious mean showing close attention to detail. careful implies attentiveness and cautiousness in avoiding mistakes <a careful worker>. meticulous may imply either commendable extreme carefulness or a hampering finicky caution over small points <meticulous scholarship>. scrupulous applies to what is proper or fitting or ethical <scrupulous honesty>. punctilious implies minute, even excessive attention to fine points <punctilious observance of ritual>.
CAREFULLY Defined for Kids
careful
adjective care·ful \ˈker-fəl\
Definition of CAREFUL for Kids
1
: using care <a careful driver>
2
: made, done, or said with care <careful planning> <She gave a careful answer.>
— care·ful·ly \-fə-lē\ adverb
Synonym Discussion of CAREFUL
careful and cautious mean taking care to avoid trouble. careful is used for a person who is able to prevent mistakes or accidents by being alert. <Be careful when you paint the fence.> cautious is used for a person who takes care to avoid further problems or difficulties. <A cautious driver will drive slowly in bad weather.>
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