## Meanings
1. Giving attention to what you do so you avoid danger, mistakes, or harm.
2. Done with a lot of attention to detail; thorough.
3. Sensible about how you spend money.

## Examples
- He was a slow and careful driver.
- They made a careful search of the crime scene.
- She is very careful with money and rarely wastes any.

## Synonyms
- deliberate

## Antonyms
- careless

## Derived Forms
- carefully
- carefulness
- noncareful
- overcareful
- ultracareful
- uncareful

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ǵeh₂r-
- Root: careful
- Root: carful
- Affix: -ful - full of

## Etymology
From Middle English careful, from Old English carful; equivalent to care + -ful.

## AI Etymology
careful is an adjective. It is from Middle English careful, from Old English carful; equivalent to care + -ful. Historical forms in the chain include *ǵeh₂r- (Proto-Indo-European), careful (Middle English), and carful (Old English). Current senses include giving attention to what you do so you avoid danger, mistakes, or harm, done with a lot of attention to detail; thorough, and sensible about how you spend money. Derived forms include carefully, carefulness, noncareful, overcareful, and ultracareful.

## Topics
- Mind & Cognition

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