caution

[ kaw-shuhn ]

noun

1. alertness and prudence in a hazardous situation; care; wariness:

   Landslides ahead—proceed with caution.

   Synonyms: watchfulness, vigilance, heed, discretion, circumspection

   Antonyms: carelessness

2. 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

3. 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)

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

   Synonyms: forewarn, admonish

verb (used without object)

1. to warn or advise:

   The newspapers caution against overoptimism.

caution

/ ˈkɔːʃən /

noun

1. care, forethought, or prudence, esp in the face of danger; wariness
2. something intended or serving as a warning; admonition
3. 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
4. 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
5. informal.
   an amusing or surprising person or thing

   she's a real caution

verb

1. tr to urge or warn (a person) to be careful
2. tr law to give a caution to (a person)
3. intr to warn, urge, or advise

   he cautioned against optimism

Derived Forms

• ˈcautioner, noun

Other Words From

• caution·er noun
• over·caution noun verb (used with object)
• re·caution verb (used with object)
• super·caution noun
• un·cautioned adjective
• well-cautioned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of caution¹

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; caveat

Word History and Origins

Origin of caution¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

see throw caution to the winds .

Synonym Study

See warn.

Example Sentences

Analysts have expressed some caution about the Nikola Badger, for which the company began taking preorders before announcing its manufacturer.

From Fortune

Because private security officers don’t have the legal protection of the badge, they’re taught to use extra caution when exercising deadly force.

From Ozy

Elmer unwraps some caution tape for ratepayers in the meantime.

From Voice of San Diego

The playground equipment sat unused, swirled in caution tape due to the pandemic.

From Voice of San Diego

Fisheries biologist Allen Andrews has a word of caution about the new research.

From Science News For Students

The second set was immediately canceled, and everyone was warned to take caution and head home.

From The Daily Beast

Good news, in an epidemic as unpredictable as this one, must be met with caution.

From The Daily Beast

While the caution that the fragility of this situation calls for cannot be overstated, neither can the successes made thus far.

From The Daily Beast

There was “some note of caution” attached to hiring Knox, thanks to the negativity from the case, Robinson said.

From The Daily Beast

Medical authorities of the day often acted less out of an “abundance of caution” than with a general callousness to humanity.

From The Daily Beast

But Soult was possessed of a crafty caution which seldom if ever allowed his ambition to hinder the success his ability deserved.

From Project Gutenberg

They show to the full the secret of the Marshal's success as a soldier, the blending of ardour with method and dash with caution.

From Project Gutenberg

In successive letters he reiterates the caution to beware of surprise and treason, and his anxiety for constant news.

From Project Gutenberg

With all the fiery enthusiasm of the Gael, he possessed to an unusual degree the caution of the Lowland Scot.

From Project Gutenberg

"It's across the lagoon," Dr. Silence cried, but this time in full tones that paid no tribute to caution.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• admonish
• alert
• exhort
• forewarn
• urge