Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If you are ~, you give serious attention to what you are doing, in order to avoid harm, damage, or mistakes. If you are ~ to do something, you make sure that you do it.
Careful on those stairs!...
We had to be very ~ not to be seen...
Pupils will need ~ guidance on their choice of options.
? careless
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ about/with/of n, ADJ to-inf
~ly
Have a nice time, dear, and drive ~ly...
He had chosen his words ~ly in declaring that the murderers were madmen.
? carelessly
ADV: ADV with v
2.
Careful work, thought, or examination is thorough and shows a concern for details.
He has decided to prosecute her after ~ consideration of all the relevant facts...
What we now know about the disease was learned by ~ study of diseased organs.
= painstaking
ADJ: usu ADJ n
~ly
He explained very ~ly what he was doing.
ADV: ADV with v
3.
If you tell someone to be ~ about doing something, you think that what they intend to do is probably wrong, and that they should think seriously before they do it.
I think you should be ~ about talking of the rebels as heroes...
ADJ: v-link ADJ about/of -ing
~ly
He should think ~ly about actions like this which play into the hands of his opponents.
ADV: ADV after v
4.
If you are ~ with something such as money or resources, you use or spend only what is necessary.
It would force industries to be more ~ with natural resources.
= prudent
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ with n