Skip to main content
heedfully

heedfully

1 7.4
Carefully and with close attention
  • adverb
  • /ˈhidfəl/
translation icon : atentamente
  • The children played heedfully near the road, always looking both ways before crossing.

Examples

  • He listened heedfully to the instructions before starting the experiment.

  • To avoid mistakes, she approached the task heedfully, paying close attention to every detail.

  • Ma'am, most heedfully.

  • The conversation was also heedfully inclusive, taking into careful consideration the range of fields and interests represented by the entire group seated at the long dining tables.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Perera sat down at his desk, slipped his glasses on, and spread the scraps out before him as heedfully as his shaking hands allowed.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • But his staring so heedfully into the water reminded Ada of Narcissus, and to further their continuing studies of the Greeks, she told Ruby a brief version of the tale.

    Fiction book (1997)

Synonyms

carefully
vsheedfully
978 1.0

In a way that shows attention and caution to avoid mistakes or harm

is the same in meaning and use
closely
vsheedfully
269 1.4

With careful attention to small details

is more about cautious attention than simple observation
attentively
vsheedfully
9 3.0

With care and strong focus on what you see or hear

is more about caution and careful attention than mere concentration
mindfully
vsheedfully
2 3.9

Carefully and with full attention to what you do

stresses caution and careful watching rather than deliberate intent
alertly
vsheedfully
1 3.2

In a quick and watchful way that notices and reacts to things

is slower and more cautious rather than fast reaction
watchfully
vsheedfully
1 3.2

In a careful way while looking for danger or sudden movement

covers general careful attention not only focused on spotting danger
advertently
vsheedfully
  • Formal
8.2

Carefully and on purpose

focuses on caution and close attention rather than mere intent

Antonyms

20 1.0

In a way that you do something without thinking or paying attention

How Attentive

vigilantly
3 6.2
heedfully
1 7.4
attentively
9 3.0
carefully
978 1.0

Surface Forms

heedfully positive

Morphology

heedfully = heedful (transparent) = heed + ful + ly

The adverb is formed regularly from the adjective 'heedful' with the productive suffix '-ly', preserving the meaning.

Etymology

Heedfully comes from the old English word heed, which meant 'care' or 'attention', plus the parts -ful ('full of') and -ly ('in a way'). So, heedfully simply means doing something 'with care' or 'with close attention'.