cautious

[ kaw-shuhs ]
See synonyms for: cautiouscautiouslycautiousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. showing, using, or characterized by alertness and prudence in a hazardous or uncertain situation; careful or wary: Be cautious about clicking on links, as they can often introduce harmful viruses to your computer.He offered a measured and cautious interpretation of the study’s results.

Origin of cautious

1
First recorded in 1630–40; cauti(on) + -ous

synonym study For cautious

See careful.

Other words for cautious

Other words from cautious

  • cau·tious·ly, adverb
  • cau·tious·ness, noun
  • hy·per·cau·tious, adjective
  • hy·per·cau·tious·ness, noun
  • su·per·cau·tious, adjective
  • ul·tra·cau·tious, adjective
  • ul·tra·cau·tious·ness, noun
  • un·cau·tious, adjective
  • un·cau·tious·ness, noun

Words Nearby cautious

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use cautious in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cautious

cautious

/ (ˈkɔːʃəs) /


adjective
  1. showing or having caution; wary; prudent

Derived forms of cautious

  • cautiously, adverb
  • cautiousness, noun

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