Standard Lemma guide

precariously

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: P R IH0 K EH1 R IY0 AH0 S L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a precarious manner; dangerously.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in a precarious manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • being a precariously dominant minority is a difficult position for human nature to cope with

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English precarious Middle English -ly English -ly English precariously From precarious + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: precàriament — in a precarious manner
  • Czech: prekérně — in a precarious manner
  • French: précairement — in a precarious manner
  • Georgian: შემთხვევით (šemtxvevit) — in a precarious manner
  • German: unsicher — in a precarious manner
  • German: prekär — in a precarious manner
  • Greek: επισφαλώς (episfalós) — in a precarious manner
  • Hungarian: bizonytalanul — in a precarious manner
  • Hungarian: kétesen — in a precarious manner
  • Hungarian: visszavonhatóan — in a precarious manner
  • Italian: precariamente — in a precarious manner
  • Polish: niepewnie — in a precarious manner
  • Portuguese: precariamente — in a precarious manner
  • Russian: ненадёжно (nenadjóžno) — in a precarious manner
  • Spanish: precariamente — in a precarious manner