dangerously
gb/dˈeɪnd͡ʒɚəsli/ us/dˈeɪnd͡ʒɚəsli/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
property
1
in a way that risks harm
in a way that is not safe and could hurt someone
Usage pattern:
[someone] [does something] dangerously
Common mistake:
Don’t use *dangerous* (adjective) to describe an action; use *dangerously* (adverb): “He drove dangerously,” not “He drove dangerous.”
Synonyms
perilously (more formal and dramatic)
|
riskily (focuses on taking risks rather than threat)
Antonyms
safely (without risk of harm)
|
cautiously (with careful actions to avoid danger)
Collocations
drive dangerously
|work dangerously
|play dangerously
|handle [something] dangerously
|behave dangerously
|operate [machinery] dangerously
|climb dangerously
|swim dangerously
|fight dangerously
|travel dangerously
Themes
safety
|risk
|daily_life
Examples
- He was driving dangerously on the icy road.
- The workers were dangerously close to the edge without proper equipment.
- Don’t handle that knife dangerously—hold it by the handle.
Learner examples
- She drove dangerously in the rain.
- This machine is being used dangerously.
adverb
B2
quantity
2
to a near-critical level
almost at a dangerous level
Usage pattern:
dangerously + [low/high/close/near] (to [something])
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse *very*; *dangerously* adds the idea of approaching a risky limit, not just high degree.
Synonyms
alarmingly (emphasizes causing alarm or concern)
|
worryingly (emphasizes concern rather than physical risk)
Antonyms
safely (at a safe distance/level)
|
comfortably (well within safe limits)
Collocations
dangerously close
|dangerously near
|dangerously low
|dangerously high
|dangerously hot
|dangerously cold
|dangerously overcrowded
|dangerously thin
|dangerously steep
|dangerously slippery
Themes
health
|numbers
|safety
|science
Examples
- The river rose dangerously high overnight.
- Her blood sugar dropped dangerously low.
- They were standing dangerously close to the platform edge.
Learner examples
- The temperature is dangerously high today.
- The car came dangerously close to the cyclist.
adverb
C1
property
3
likely to cause serious trouble
in a way that can cause big problems
Usage pattern:
dangerously + [misleading/unstable/naive/unclear]
Common mistake:
This use is often figurative; it doesn’t always mean physical danger.
Synonyms
seriously (general seriousness without the limit/risk implication)
|
problematically (focuses on causing problems rather than danger)
Antonyms
harmlessly (without causing harm or problems)
|
benignly (without threatening consequences)
Collocations
dangerously misleading
|dangerously unstable
|dangerously naive
|dangerously unprepared
|dangerously wrong
|dangerously close to collapse
|dangerously polarized
|dangerously underfunded
|dangerously outdated
|dangerously exposed
Themes
society
|politics
|business
|risk
Examples
- The article is dangerously misleading about the medicine’s side effects.
- Their assumptions were dangerously optimistic.
- Without repairs, the bridge could become dangerously unstable.
Learner examples
- That advice is dangerously wrong.
- The situation is dangerously unstable.
adverb
informal
C1
property
4
extremely, in a tempting way
very (so good it feels risky)
Usage pattern:
dangerously + [good/delicious/addictive/easy]
Common mistake:
This is an informal exaggeration; avoid it in very formal writing.
Synonyms
ridiculously (strong informal exaggeration, not necessarily about temptation)
|
incredibly (less humorous; more neutral intensifier)
Antonyms
moderately (not extreme in degree)
|
barely (very small degree, opposite of extreme)
Collocations
dangerously good
|dangerously delicious
|dangerously addictive
|dangerously easy
|dangerously tempting
|dangerously charming
|dangerously attractive
|dangerously smooth
|dangerously strong
|dangerously convincing
Themes
food
|emotions
|informal_speech
Examples
- This chocolate cake is dangerously good.
- The app is dangerously easy to use—you can lose hours on it.
- That jacket is dangerously tempting, but it’s way over my budget.
Learner examples
- This dessert is dangerously delicious.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dangerously
IPA
GB/dˈeɪnd͡ʒɚəsli/
US/dˈeɪnd͡ʒɚəsli/
Syllables & stress
dan - ger - ously (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (dan)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: dangerously
- Plural: dangerouslies
Word family
Expressions
dangerously close (to)
1/dˈeɪnd͡ʒɚəsli klˈoʊs tə/
fixed phrase
almost too close
almost touching or almost happening in a risky way
Examples
- The car passed dangerously close to the cyclist.
- The company came dangerously close to bankruptcy last year.
- The hikers were dangerously close to the cliff edge.
dangerously good
1/dˈeɪnd͡ʒɚəsli ɡˈʊd/
fixed phrase
informal
extremely good and tempting
so good you want too much of it
Examples
- That sauce is dangerously good—I could eat it with anything.
- The new game is dangerously good, and I can’t stop playing.
- These cookies are dangerously good when they’re warm.
dangerously high
1/dˈeɪnd͡ʒɚəsli hˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
at a critically high level
too high and not safe
Examples
- Pollution levels were dangerously high this morning.
- Her temperature was dangerously high.
- Interest rates are still dangerously high for many borrowers.
dangerously ill
1/dˈeɪnd͡ʒɚəsli ˈɪl/
fixed phrase
so ill it may be fatal
very sick and may die
Examples
- Several patients were dangerously ill after the outbreak.
- The doctor said he was dangerously ill and needed intensive care.
- She became dangerously ill within a few hours.
dangerously low
1/dˈeɪnd͡ʒɚəsli lˈoʊ/
fixed phrase
at a critically low level
too low and not safe
Examples
- Water supplies are dangerously low after months without rain.
- His blood pressure was dangerously low.
- The plane’s fuel level was dangerously low.
live dangerously
1/lˈɪv dˈeɪnd͡ʒɚəsli/
fixed phrase
choose an exciting risky life
do risky things as a way of life
Examples
- He loves speed and tends to live dangerously.
- She quit her stable job to travel full-time—she says she’s living dangerously.
- When he was younger, he lived dangerously and took constant risks.