caution

American  

[kaw-shuhn] / ˈkɔ ʃən /

noun

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

   Landslides ahead—proceed with caution.

   Synonyms:

   vigilance, heed, watchfulness, 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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

caution Idioms  

1. see throw caution to the winds.

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Related Words

See warn.

Other Word Forms

• cautioner
  noun
• overcaution
  noun
• recaution
  verb (used with object)
• supercaution
  noun
• uncautioned
  adjective
• well-cautioned
  adjective

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."

Example Sentences

Caution is taken with pitchers: They’re on restrictive pitch counts, with mandatory rest.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

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

Raye is wheeled onto the Pyramid Stage in a giant flight case marked "Caution, contents may be fragile."

From BBC • Sep. 29, 2025

Caution had become a habit; she told no one of her activist past.

From "Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice" by Phillip Hoose

Related Words

• attention
• care
• discretion
• foresight
• prudence
• vigilance