Definition of careful Careful

/kɛˈɹfʌl/ - [kerful] - care•ful

We found 15 definitions of careful from 5 different sources.

What does careful mean?

WordNet

Adjective
careful - exercising caution or showing care or attention; "they were careful when crossing the busy street"; "be careful to keep her shoes clean"; "did very careful research"; "careful art restorers"; "careful of the rights of others"; "careful about one's behavior"
		careless effortless and unstudied; "an impression of careless elegance"; "danced with careless grace"
		cautious showing careful forethought; "reserved and cautious; never making swift decisions"; "a cautious driver"
		diligent characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks; "a diligent detective investigates all clues"; "a diligent search of the files"
		prudent careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment; "a prudent manager"; "prudent rulers"; "prudent hesitation"; "more prudent to hide than to fight"
		carefulness the quality of being careful and painstaking; "I admired the carefulness of his work"
		blow-by-blow providing great detail; "a blow-by-blow account of the movie"
		certain, sure exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance; "be certain to disconnect the iron when you are through"; "be sure to lock the doors"
		close marked by fidelity to an original; "a close translation"; "a faithful copy of the portrait"; "a faithful rendering of the observed facts"
		painstaking, conscientious, scrupulous characterized by extreme care and great effort; "conscientious application to the work at hand"; "painstaking research"; "scrupulous attention to details"
		detailed, elaborated, elaborate developed or executed with care and in minute detail; "a detailed plan"; "the elaborate register of the inhabitants prevented tax evasion"- John Buchan; "the carefully elaborated theme"
		minute, narrow characterized by painstaking care and detailed examination; "a minute inspection of the grounds"; "a narrow scrutiny"; "an exact and minute report"
		overcareful, too-careful excessively or unduly careful
		particular providing specific details or circumstances; "a particular description of the room"
		protective (usually followed by `of') solicitously caring or mindful; "protective of his reputation"
		studious marked by care and effort; "made a studious attempt to fix the television set"
careful - mindful of the future in spending money; "careful with money"
		thrifty
		provident providing carefully for the future; "wild squirrels are provident"; "a provident father plans for his children's education"
careful - unhurried and with care and dignity; "walking at the same measured pace"; "with all deliberate speed"
		deliberate, measured
		unhurried relaxed and leisurely; without hurry or haste; "people strolling about in an unhurried way"; "an unhurried walk"; "spoke in a calm and unhurried voice"
careful - cautiously attentive; "careful of her feelings"; "heedful of his father's advice"
		heedful
		mindful, aware bearing in mind; attentive to; "ever mindful of her health"; "mindful of his responsibilities"; "mindful of these criticisms, I shall attempt to justify my action"
careful - full of cares or anxiety; "Thou art careful and troubled about many things"-Luke 10.41
		troubled characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need; "troubled areas"; "fell into a troubled sleep"; "a troubled expression"; "troubled teenagers"
		archaicism, archaism the use of an archaic expression

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Wiktionary

careful (Adjective)
Full of care or grief; sorrowful, sad.
careful (Adjective)
Full of cares or anxiety; worried, troubled.
careful (Adjective)
Having care for; attentive to potential danger, error or harm; cautious.
careful (Adjective)
Conscientious and painstaking; meticulous.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

careful (a.)
Full of care; anxious; solicitous.
careful (a.)
Filling with care or solicitude; exposing to concern, anxiety, or trouble; painful.
careful (a.)
Taking care; giving good heed; watchful; cautious; provident; not indifferent, heedless, or reckless; -- often followed by of, for, or the infinitive; as, careful of money; careful to do right.