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View synonyms for

caution

[ kaw-shuhn ]

noun

  1. alertness and prudence in a hazardous situation; care; wariness:

    Landslides ahead—proceed with caution.

    Synonyms: , , , ,

    Antonyms:

  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: , ,

  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: ,

verb (used without object)

  1. to warn or advise:

    The newspapers caution against overoptimism.

caution

/ ˈɔːʃə /

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

“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

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

“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈܳپDzԱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • tDz· noun
  • v·tDz noun verb (used with object)
  • ·tDz verb (used with object)
  • p·tDz noun
  • ܲ·tDzԱ adjective
  • ɱ-tDzԱ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of caution1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English caucion, from Latin ܳپō-, stem of ܳپō “a taking care,” from caut(us) “taken care” (past participle of ŧ “to take care”) + -ion; caveat
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Word History and Origins

Origin of caution1

C13: from Old French, from Latin ܳپō, from ŧ to beware
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Idioms and Phrases

see throw caution to the winds .
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Synonym Study

See warn.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The supplier voluntarily recalled the onion products at fault, and the FDA cautioned the public about the contaminated yellow onions, which were being served on McDonald’s hamburgers.

From

But in a private speech in Washington for JPMorgan Chase, Scott Bessent also cautioned that talks between the U.S. and China had yet to formally start.

From

“Out of an abundance of caution and the health of Mr. Santana, the decision to postpone the show was the most prudent course of action.”

From

Kuehl was among those who feared more guns in public would lead to more shootings, and wanted the sheriff’s department to proceed with caution.

From

He cautioned the court against adding a broad new right for parents and students to object to ideas or messages that offend them.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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