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Glite Dictionary
to be careful

to be careful

979 1.0
Take care to avoid danger or getting hurt
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : tener cuidado
  • Now, we need to be careful here about what's going on.
  • need to be careful
  • be careful to avoid
  • be careful not to assume

But you've got to be careful with this, he says.

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Examples

  • It's important to be careful while handling sharp tools to avoid injury.

  • We've really got to be careful with the details.

  • You just need to be careful who you tell what.

  • So you got to be careful where you end up.

  • OK, so you really need to be careful about stuff like that.

  • So you have to really be careful when you scale things up.

  • And so we need to be careful in how we use it up.

  • Why do you think we need to be careful, exactly.

  • We'll just have to be careful for a while.

    Wuthering Heights (1970)

  • You have to be careful about what activities you choose to use with a book.

    Academic text (2013)

Synonyms

to watch out
vsto be careful
  • Informal
582 3.0

To be careful to avoid danger or trouble

is the same warning but more general and not always continuous vigilance
to take care
vsto be careful
168 1.8

To be careful to avoid danger

is a brief warning that urges immediate precautionary action
to beware
vsto be careful
136 4.1

Be careful and watch for danger

is a common everyday caution and less formal than a formal alert
to watch it
vsto be careful
  • Informal
85 5.6

Be careful to avoid danger or upsetting someone

is a more neutral caution rather than a sudden sharp warning
to watch your step
vsto be careful
63 3.7

Be careful when you move and act to avoid danger and trouble

is a wider warning that covers more than physical movement
to play it safe
vsto be careful
42 3.4

Choose a careful option to avoid risks

is an immediate warning to be cautious rather than a long term strategy
to tread lightly
vsto be careful
9 5.6

To act carefully to avoid hurting feelings or making mistakes

centres on avoiding harm more generally rather than social offence
easy does it
vsto be careful
  • Informal
8 6.0

Move slowly and carefully to avoid mistakes or accidents

is a direct warning to take precautions rather than a gentle tempo instruction
to tread carefully
vsto be careful
6 3.9

Act carefully to avoid mistakes, danger, or upsetting others

focuses more on general immediate warning rather than careful gradual action

Antonyms

reckless
193 3.6

Acting without care about danger or the results

careless
14 1.0

A lack of attention that causes mistakes or harm

How Careful

to be careful
979 1.0
to take care
168 1.8
to watch out
  • Informal
582 3.0

Surface Forms

be careful infinitive
was careful past
been careful past participle
being careful present participle
is careful third person singular

Morphology

be + careful

The meaning 'warn someone to take precautions' is directly and compositionally derived from 'be' (exist in a state) + 'careful' (cautious). This adjective-predicate imperative construction is transparent and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the phrase.

Etymology

Be careful gives a simple picture: to be careful means to watch your steps and your hands around things that might hurt you or break. So when people say be careful, they tell you to 'avoid danger' and 'not get hurt'.