If you are careful, you give serious attention to what you are doing, in order to avoid harm, damage, or mistakes. If you are careful to do something, you make sure that you do it. Careful on those stairs! We had to be very careful not to be seen Pupils will need careful guidance on their choice of options. careless + carefully care·ful·ly Have a nice time, dear, and drive carefully He had chosen his words carefully in declaring that the murderers were madmen. carelessly
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"
with care and dignity; "walking at the same measured pace"; "with all deliberate speed"
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
If you are careful, you try to avoid having an accident, making a mistake, or upsetting someone
If you tell someone to be careful 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 careful about talking of the rebels as heroes + carefully care·ful·ly He should think carefully about actions like this which play into the hands of his opponents
If you are careful with something such as money or resources, you use or spend only what is necessary. It would force industries to be more careful with natural resources. = prudent