caution
[kaw-shuh n]
- 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.
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- to give warning to; advise or urge to take heed.
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- to warn or advise: The newspapers caution against overoptimism.
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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
See more synonyms for caution on Thesaurus.com1. circumspection, discretion, watchfulness, heed, vigilance. 2. admonition, advice, counsel. 4. admonish, forewarn.
Synonym study
4. See warn.
Antonyms
1. carelessness.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for cautioned
Contemporary Examples
Camarillo also cautioned families about other clues that may be worth further examination before allowing someone into your home.
Well, maybe it was a gamma-ray burst, or maybe it was something else, cautioned some others.
But he cautioned that last-minute snags could still derail an agreement.
But Dr. Rebecca Brightman, an ob-gyn in private practice, cautioned that such fears are overblown.
Although Burwell was confirmed to head OMB by a vote of 96-0, Daschle cautioned that he thought she wouldn't have an "easy ride."
Historical Examples
"And you're getting it so high it's top-heavy," cautioned Mrs. Drelmer.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
Visitors should be cautioned against approaching this picture.
Tom cautioned him again and again to be careful, and not take too great risks.
The Dare Boys of 1776Stephen Angus Cox
"Don't be too sure," cautioned Mr. Swift, but Tom only smiled.
Tom Swift and his Electric RunaboutVictor Appleton
The Duke cautioned her not to think that she could deceive him.
The Memoirs of the Louis XIV. and The Regency, CompleteElizabeth-Charlotte, Duchesse d'Orleans
caution
- 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
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- (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
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Word Origin
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 cautioned
caution
v.
"to warn," 1640s, from caution (n.). Related: Cautioned; cautioning.
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caution
n.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with cautioned
caution
see throw caution to the winds.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.