1
: warning, admonishment
Her comments were intended as a caution to us to protect our property.
2
: precaution
a surgeon taking the caution of sterilizing his instruments
3
: prudent forethought to minimize risk
Use caution when operating a chain saw.
4
: one that astonishes or commands attention
some shoes you see … these days are a caution—
Esquire
EsquireSynonyms
Examples of caution in a Sentence
Noun
You should use caution when operating the electric saw.
He injected a note of caution in his talk.
Her financial adviser urged caution before investing in the project.
The roads are slippery: drive with extreme caution.
Her comments were intended as a caution to us to protect our property.
A note of caution: be sure that the electricity is off before you install the ceiling fan.
She was given a caution by the magistrate.
Verb
Officials are cautioning that the war may continue for years.
“Don't decide too quickly,” she cautioned.
He was cautioned for speeding.
Recent Examples on the WebDaryl Austin, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
For both men, doctors say, caution is medically warranted: Old people are more frail than younger ones.
—Michael D. Shear Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The actor had been scolded early in his career for talking to the main actors on a set, and has learned to exercise caution when approaching stars.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024
Drivers should exercise extra caution, especially in high-profile vehicles.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
To protect yourself, exercise caution when faced with unsolicited requests for personal information, particularly those employing high-pressure tactics to create a sense of urgency.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024
The Red Cross recommends caution with surveying storm damage.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 2 Apr. 2024
Golden urged visitors to use caution when visiting the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, warning that people have died falling off the cliffs.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 2 Apr. 2024
Rick Fienberg, the project manager of the AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force and a veteran of 14 total solar eclipses, offered some caution.
—Kelsey Chapman, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2024
Max Zahn, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2024
Prospective investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements.
—Sacramento Bee, 8 Apr. 2024
Still, the scholar cautions against labeling James—who fathered seven children with his wife, Anne of Denmark—as gay or bisexual, as these terms only came into use centuries after the king’s lifetime.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Shareholder Meeting Sources cautioned that some shareholders may change their vote Wednesday, the Reuters report noted.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
But Rizzo also cautioned Kansas over attempting to aggressively lure the Chiefs.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, officials are cautioning the public against recreating on or near the river.
—Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 3 Apr. 2024
Yet many trans-Atlantic security analysts and diplomats caution that the celebrations in April and July must be tempered by recognition of the significant challenges the alliance faces, some of which may be self-inflicted.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Apr. 2024
The coauthors, a group of dental and public health researchers, cautioned against overstating the oral-systemic health connection.
—Lola Butcher, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
In order to avoid adverse effects like these, parents should especially exercise caution when giving young children melatonin.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
For both men, doctors say, caution is medically warranted: Old people are more frail than younger ones.
—Michael D. Shear Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The actor had been scolded early in his career for talking to the main actors on a set, and has learned to exercise caution when approaching stars.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024
Drivers should exercise extra caution, especially in high-profile vehicles.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
To protect yourself, exercise caution when faced with unsolicited requests for personal information, particularly those employing high-pressure tactics to create a sense of urgency.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024
The Red Cross recommends caution with surveying storm damage.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 2 Apr. 2024
Golden urged visitors to use caution when visiting the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, warning that people have died falling off the cliffs.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 2 Apr. 2024
Rick Fienberg, the project manager of the AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force and a veteran of 14 total solar eclipses, offered some caution.
—Kelsey Chapman, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
Sticky inflation Dimon acknowledged strong economic performance of late but cautioned of long-term trends that could undermine the gains.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2024
Prospective investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements.
—Sacramento Bee, 8 Apr. 2024
Still, the scholar cautions against labeling James—who fathered seven children with his wife, Anne of Denmark—as gay or bisexual, as these terms only came into use centuries after the king’s lifetime.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Shareholder Meeting Sources cautioned that some shareholders may change their vote Wednesday, the Reuters report noted.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
But Rizzo also cautioned Kansas over attempting to aggressively lure the Chiefs.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, officials are cautioning the public against recreating on or near the river.
—Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 3 Apr. 2024
Yet many trans-Atlantic security analysts and diplomats caution that the celebrations in April and July must be tempered by recognition of the significant challenges the alliance faces, some of which may be self-inflicted.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Apr. 2024
The coauthors, a group of dental and public health researchers, cautioned against overstating the oral-systemic health connection.
—Lola Butcher, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'caution.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Caution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caution. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
caution
1 of 2 noun
cau·tion
ˈkȯ-shən 
1
2
: carefulness in regard to danger
3
: someone or something that astonishes or catches one's attention
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