careful
Translation
careful, cautious, thorough
Examples
Be careful with that glass.
Be careful with that glass.
She is a very careful driver.
She is a very careful driver.
Be careful not to wake the baby.
Be careful not to wake the baby.
Grammar Patterns
be careful ((with sth.)) to warn someone to handle (sth.) with caution. Be careful with that glass.
((adjective)) + ((noun)) describes a person or action as cautious. She is a very careful driver.
be careful ((to-inf)) to advise someone to take care in doing an action. Be careful not to wake the baby.
Similar Words
Synonyms: cautious, prudent, meticulous; Antonyms: careless, reckless
Etymology
Composed of 'care' (attention) and the suffix '-ful' (full of), literally meaning 'full of care'.
Memory Tips
Think of being 'full' of 'care' when you are doing something. This helps to remember its meaning of being cautious and attentive.