1
: using care
He is a careful driver.
You can never be too careful about these things.
Be careful! The stove is hot!
They are very careful with their money. [=they only spend what they can afford]
She was careful of their feelings.
The police were careful to leave the room exactly as they found it.
2
always used before a noun
: made, done, or said with care
Police made a careful examination of the scene.
We kept careful [=meticulous] records of the project.
They produced a careful study of the building.
Cite this Entry
“Careful.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/careful. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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