caution
Americannoun
-
alertness and prudence in a hazardous situation; care; wariness.
Landslides ahead—proceed with caution.
- Synonyms:
- vigilance, heed, watchfulness, discretion, circumspection
- Antonyms:
- carelessness
-
a warning against danger or evil; anything serving as a warning.
By way of caution, he told me the difficulties I would face.
- Synonyms:
- counsel, advice, admonition
-
Informal. a person or thing that astonishes or causes mild apprehension.
She's a caution. The way he challenges your remarks is a caution.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
-
care, forethought, or prudence, esp in the face of danger; wariness
-
something intended or serving as a warning; admonition
-
law a formal warning given to a person suspected or accused of an offence that his words will be taken down and may be used in evidence
-
a notice entered on the register of title to land that prevents a proprietor from disposing of his or her land without a notice to the person who entered the caution
-
informal an amusing or surprising person or thing
she's a real caution
verb
-
(tr) to urge or warn (a person) to be careful
-
(tr) law to give a caution to (a person)
-
(intr) to warn, urge, or advise
he cautioned against optimism
Synonym Usage
See warn.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
overcautionnoun
-
recautionverb (used with object)
-
uncautionedadjective
-
cautionernoun
-
well-cautionedadjective
-
supercautionnoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have cautionedperfect
-
has cautionedperfect 3rd person singular
-
has been cautioningperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
have been cautioningperfect progressive
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are cautioningprogressive
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am cautioningprogressive 1st person singular
-
cautioningparticiple
-
cautionssingular 3rd person
-
is cautioningprogressive 3rd person singular
Past
-
had cautionedperfect
-
was cautioningprogressive singular
-
were cautioningprogressive plural
-
had been cautioningperfect progressive
-
cautionedparticiple
-
cautionedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of caution
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English caucion, from Latin cautiōn-, stem of cautiō “a taking care,” from caut(us) “taken care” (past participle of cavēre “to take care”) + -iō -ion; cf. caveat
Explanation
If you act with caution, it means you are careful. Be sure to use caution when walking across a patch of ice. Otherwise, you might end up sprawling face-first on the ground. Ouch! The noun caution can be used to describe something that calls for careful action and the need to avoid risk, such as a volatile political situation that requires extreme caution. The word also has a verb form with a similar meaning. It’s a more formal way of saying “warn” and usually appears with against or that, as in, "Teachers caution against waiting until the last minute to study," or, "They caution that effective studying takes a long time."
Vocabulary lists containing caution
"Fears and Phobias," Vocabulary from the article
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Essential English Vocabulary, List 5
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"The Tragedy of Macbeth," Vocabulary from Act 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Caution should be exercised driving along Highways 210 and 66 and Interstate 10 below the Cajon Pass.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2026
Caution is still warranted, though, as in the past year “markets have come close to pricing in a peace deal several times, only for talks to stall.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025
Caution seems warranted, but Buffett’s style of investment won’t work for everyone.
From Barron's • Nov. 3, 2025
Caution favors those who don’t have a clear view in the rearview mirror — or the road ahead.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 29, 2025
Caution had become a habit; she told no one of her activist past.
From "Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice" by Phillip Hoose
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
