# safely

/ˈseɪfɫi/ (US) · /sˈeɪfli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/safely
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. without danger

adverb · CEFR A2

in a way that is not dangerous and does not cause injury or damage.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. with certainty

adverb · CEFR B2

used to say that you are sure about something or that it is likely to be true.

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- Please make sure you arrive home safely.
- The pilot landed the plane safely despite the heavy rain and strong winds at the airport.
- After the data was safely backed up on multiple external servers, the IT team began the risky process of upgrading the primary database software.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.