Word
safely
Phoneticssafe·ly
US/ˈseɪfɫi/
UK/sˈeɪfli/
Definitions
01without danger
adv. in a way that is not dangerous and does not cause injury or damage.
adv. in a manner that avoids risk, injury, or damage; performing an action without exposure to danger.
“The children crossed the busy street safely by using the pedestrian bridge.”
“The pilot managed to land the aircraft safely despite the severe crosswinds and limited visibility at the mountain airport.”
Usage
Usually follows the verb or the direct object of the sentence.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02with certainty
adv. used to say that you are sure about something or that it is likely to be true.
adv. used to indicate that a statement or prediction can be made with confidence or without risk of being wrong.
“We can safely say that the new project will be a success.”
“Given the current market trends, one can safely assume that interest rates will remain stable for the remainder of the fiscal year.”
Usage
Often used with verbs of saying or thinking, like 'say', 'assume', or 'predict'.
Teaching tip
This is a figurative use where 'safely' means 'without risk of being proven wrong'.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English savely; equivalent to safe + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.