safely
/ˈseɪfli/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: safelier · safeliest
Sense 1
Meaning · English
In a safe manner; without risk; using caution above all else.
Adverb
Examples
With fresh material, taxonomic conclusions are leavened by recognition that the material examined reflects the site it occupied; a herbarium packet gives one only a small fraction of the data desirable for sound conclusions. Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
In a secure manner; without the possibility of injury or harm resulting.
Adverb
Examples
Edward Churchill still attended to his work in a hopeless mechanical manner like a sleep-walker who walks safely on a well-known round. But his Roman collar galled him, his cassock stifled him, his biretta was as uncomfortable as a merry-andrew's cap and bells.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “safely” mean?
In a safe manner; without risk; using caution above all else.
Is “safely” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.