prudently
adverb
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It Is Prudent to Read Up on This Word History
Prudent arrived in Middle English around the 14th century and traces back, by way of Middle French, to the Latin verb providēre, meaning "to see ahead, foresee, provide (for). "Providēre" combines pro-, meaning "before, and vidēre, meaning "to see, and it may look familiar to you; it is also the source of our "provide," "provident," "provision," and "improvise." "Vidēre" also has many English offspring, including "evident," "supervise," "video," and "vision."
Synonyms
Examples of prudent in a Sentence
An endless war is not always the most moral or the most prudent course of action.
—
Richard A. Posner, New Republic, 2 Sept. 2002
We missed the Mass for St. Rose of Lima, who, though prudent, had failed to be martyred and was therefore only second-string.
—Darryl Pinckney, High Cotton, 1992
Prudent burners take several precautions. Burning one of two bordering fields, they wet the edge of one or the other, usually the one being burned, to prevent the flames from jumping.
—Alec Wilkinson, Big Sugar, 1989
Since the inexplicable power of a magnetized needle to "find" the north smacked of black magic … . For many decades the prudent sea captain consulted his compass secretly.
—Daniel J. Boorstin, The Discoverers, 1983
He always listened to her prudent advice.
You made a prudent choice.
Richard A. Posner, New Republic, 2 Sept. 2002
We missed the Mass for St. Rose of Lima, who, though prudent, had failed to be martyred and was therefore only second-string.
—Darryl Pinckney, High Cotton, 1992
Prudent burners take several precautions. Burning one of two bordering fields, they wet the edge of one or the other, usually the one being burned, to prevent the flames from jumping.
—Alec Wilkinson, Big Sugar, 1989
Since the inexplicable power of a magnetized needle to "find" the north smacked of black magic … . For many decades the prudent sea captain consulted his compass secretly.
—Daniel J. Boorstin, The Discoverers, 1983
He always listened to her prudent advice.
You made a prudent choice.
Recent Examples on the Web
Choi has similarly spoken about the importance of handling the delicate situation in a prudent manner that avoids sparking wider unrest.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Jan. 2025
The Chiefs made the call before their game that kicked off at 3:25 p.m. Central Time that remaining in Denver was the prudent move.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2025
The next six months will tell us whether that proves to be prudent or a discernible weakness that was not addressed at the opportune moment.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025
Suddenly, the idea of being open to new friendships felt both prudent and normal.
—Charles Blow, The Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prudent 
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Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Jan. 2025
The Chiefs made the call before their game that kicked off at 3:25 p.m. Central Time that remaining in Denver was the prudent move.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2025
The next six months will tell us whether that proves to be prudent or a discernible weakness that was not addressed at the opportune moment.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025
Suddenly, the idea of being open to new friendships felt both prudent and normal.
—Charles Blow, The Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prudent
Dictionary Entries Near prudent
Cite this Entry
“Prudent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prudent. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
prudent
adjective
pru·dent
ˈprüd-ᵊnt 
: characterized by, arising from, or showing prudence
prudently
adverb
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