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

However, he has also cautioned fans not to look to the prequel films for clues, but rather the first two films give a better idea of the series' aesthetic.

From Salon

Rick Hess, an education expert with the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said he also was not familiar with McMahon but cautioned against quick judgments.

From Los Angeles Times

"Out of an abundance of caution, the embassy will be closed, and embassy employees are being instructed to shelter in place," it said in a statement.

From BBC

The researchers caution that these remain purely speculative for now.

From Science Daily

Even as De León backed the new law, he cautioned that he didn’t want to “mislead folks” into believing “a special force field” will protect them from deportation in Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• admonish
• alert
• exhort
• forewarn
• urge