caution

[kaw-shuhn]

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

But strange things can happen in a vacuum and right now the prevailing theme is caution.

Read more on Barron's

It seems imprudent, even impolite, not to advise caution.

Read more on MarketWatch

But he noted that his endorsement of a crackdown "came from an abundance of caution" around Dreamforce security, adding "I sincerely apologize for the concern it caused".

Read more on BBC

Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, who has recently emphasized caution about easing while inflation stays elevated, is among those whose vote will rotate into play.

Read more on Barron's

McLaren had to err on the side of caution, and it inevitably cost them performance.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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