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."
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
Meanwhile, consumers are at a loss to know which mental health apps are prudent and useful and which ones are problematic and ought to be avoided.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Creating a more even playing time split could be prudent, but the club must be mindful of Caratini’s health as a 31-year-old who has only twice caught more than 500 innings in a season.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 30 May 2025
And just thought, for us and him, just in that moment, that making the change there was prudent just with how things had transpired.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
Many of them aim to clarify for staff when no-bid contracts are prudent and how to properly document them.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prudent
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Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Creating a more even playing time split could be prudent, but the club must be mindful of Caratini’s health as a 31-year-old who has only twice caught more than 500 innings in a season.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 30 May 2025
And just thought, for us and him, just in that moment, that making the change there was prudent just with how things had transpired.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
Many of them aim to clarify for staff when no-bid contracts are prudent and how to properly document them.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prudent
Cite this Entry
“Prudent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prudent. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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Legal Definition
prudent
adjective
pru·dent
ˈprüd-ᵊnt 
: characterized by, arising from, or showing prudence
prudently
adverb
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