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.

---

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

---

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.

---

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; caveat

Example Sentences

While this would represent a major scientific advance, the researchers caution that it would also create difficult ethical and legal questions.

From Science Daily

But such optimism comes with a word of caution, given the Beijing Olympics four years ago.

From BBC

Lopes decided to throw caution to the wind, but was quickly forced into defence with Volkanovski attempting a takedown against the fence.

From Barron's

Separately, another cautioned that the growing number of low-orbit craft increases the possibility of crashes between objects - which could damage machines or send materials falling back to earth.

From BBC

But Ukraine's state-owned grid operator expressed caution, saying shortages remained "very high".

From Barron's

Related Words

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