caution

[ kaw-shuhn ]

/ ˈkɔ ʃən /

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noun

alertness and prudence in a hazardous situation; care; wariness: Landslides ahead—proceed with caution.

a warning against danger or evil; anything serving as a warning: By way of caution, he told me the difficulties I would face.

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)

to give warning to; advise or urge to take heed.

verb (used without object)

to warn or advise: The newspapers caution against overoptimism.

Nearby words

Origin of caution

1250–1300; Middle English caucion < Latin cautiōn- (stem of cautiō) a taking care, equivalent to caut(us), past participle of cavēre to guard against (cau- take care, guard + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

SYNONYMS FOR caution

1 circumspection, discretion, watchfulness, heed, vigilance.

2 admonition, advice, counsel.

4 admonish, forewarn.

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ANTONYMS FOR caution

1 carelessness.

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Related forms

cau·tion·er, nouno·ver·cau·tion, noun, verb (used with object)re·cau·tion, verb (used with object)su·per·cau·tion, noun

un·cau·tioned, adjectivewell-cau·tioned, adjective

Synonym study

4. See warn.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for caution

Good news, in an epidemic as unpredictable as this one, must be met with caution.
How Liberia (Might Have) Beat Ebola|Abby Haglage|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While the caution that the fragility of this situation calls for cannot be overstated, neither can the successes made thus far.
How Liberia (Might Have) Beat Ebola|Abby Haglage|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was “some note of caution” attached to hiring Knox, thanks to the negativity from the case, Robinson said.
Amanda Knox, Cub Reporter: The Convicted Murderer Is Now Writing Theater Reviews for a Small Seattle Paper|Justin Miller|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Medical authorities of the day often acted less out of an “abundance of caution” than with a general callousness to humanity.
Disease History Vs. Disease Hysteria|Kevin Bleyer|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Distasteful those ads might be, but restrictions on political speech should be exercised with great deliberation and caution.
Is Big Money Politics an Overblown Evil?|David Freedlander|August 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Caution must still be observed in passing through Garningham at night.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, August 11, 1920|Various
But we would not leave this subject without a grain of caution.
The Peanut Plant|B. W. Jones
Not to fall into the hands of enemies Jack advanced with caution.
Jack North's Treasure Hunt|Roy Rockwood
Duff kept straight on in a spirit of caution, and just missed treading upon the fattest rat in the heathen parish of St. John's.
The Path of a Star|Mrs. Everard Cotes (AKA Sara Jeannette Duncan)
"Better wait until we get some word from the major," suggested Jack, who was getting some of his chum's caution.
Air Service Boys Over The Rhine|Charles Amory Beach

British Dictionary definitions for caution

caution

/ (ˈkɔːʃən) /

noun

care, forethought, or prudence, esp in the face of danger; wariness

something intended or serving as a warning; admonition

law, mainly British 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 thingshe's a real caution

verb

(tr) to urge or warn (a person) to be careful

(tr) law, mainly British to give a caution to (a person)

(intr) to warn, urge, or advisehe cautioned against optimism

Derived Formscautioner, noun

Word Origin for caution

C13: from Old French, from Latin cautiō, from cavēre to beware

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for caution (1 of 2)

caution

c.1300, "bail, guarantee, pledge," from Old French caution "security, surety" (13c.), from Latin cautionem (nominative cautio) "caution, care, foresight, precaution," noun of action from past participle stem of cavere "to be on one's guard" (see caveat). The Latin sense re-emerged in English 16c.-17c. Meaning "word of warning" is from c.1600.

caution

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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Origin of caution

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for caution

British Dictionary definitions for caution

caution

noun

verb

Word Origin for caution

Word Origin and History for caution (1 of 2)

caution

Word Origin and History for caution (1 of 2)

caution

Idioms and Phrases with caution

caution