caution

noun cau·tion \ ˈkȯ-shən \

|Updated on: 14 Jul 2018

Examples: caution in a Sentence

Definition of caution

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

—

cautionary

play \-shə-ˌner-ē, -ne-rē\ adjective

See caution defined for English-language learners

See caution defined for kids

Examples of caution in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of caution from the Web

However, IndyCar was unable to clear the debris in time, and the race ended under caution, much to the dismay of Newgarden and third-place running Robert Wickens, who had each pitted for fresh tires.

— jim ayello, Indianapolis Star, "Insider: James Hinchcliffe finds some salvation in Iowa," 8 July 2018
At the beginning of the adventure, a shark expert, Tristan Guttridge, briefs the participants with some words of caution, detailing how there are 40 species of sharks in the Bahamas.

— steve helling, PEOPLE.com, "Naked and Afraid of Sharks," 30 June 2018
Ohio, Illinois, and Vermont only allow sparklers (which should still be used with extreme caution, as those little sparking sticks get several times hotter than heated cooking oil).

— brittany shoot, Fortune, "Firework Facts: Americans Incinerate $1 Billion in July Fourth Fireworks Every Year," 29 June 2018
Both tried to avoid a white BMW, also traveling south, that changed lanes without caution, the release said.

— zachary hansen, ajc, "Acworth woman died, 2 others injured in Florida wreck," 26 June 2018
Not everyone agreed with the production’s abundance of caution, which included not aiming even colorful Nerf guns toward the audience.

— naveen kumar, New York Times, "When the Actors Are Students, and They’re Armed," 24 June 2018
Erring on the side of caution, Montana, another state in the Greater Yellowstone area, declined to hold a hunt in 2018.

— National Geographic, "Yellowstone-Area Grizzly Bears to Be Hunted for First Time in Decades," 24 May 2018
For most Americans, that would be enough reason for caution.

— matt ford, The New Republic, "The Republicans’ Witch Hunt," 18 May 2018
Care, caution, and being smart about a game plan are the priorities moving forward.

— sarah todd, Philly.com, "Celtics' Jaylen Brown sore after playing against doctor's orders," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'caution.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of caution

Latin caution-, cautio precaution, from cavēre to be on one's guard — more at hear

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1566

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

caution Synonyms

caution

verb

Definition of caution

cautioned; cautioning play \ˈkȯ-sh(ə-)niŋ\

transitive verb

: to advise caution to : warn

She cautioned him not to act rashly.

See caution defined for English-language learners

Examples of caution in a Sentence

Officials are cautioning that the war may continue for years.
“Don't decide too quickly,” she cautioned.
He was cautioned for speeding.

Recent Examples of caution from the Web

Mink's 2-year-old was still protesting his seating, and two of the out-of-towners at her table were cautioning her against making a scene.

— avi selk, chicagotribune.com, "Why a teacher carried her 2-year-old up to Scott Pruitt's restaurant table and asked him to resign," 3 July 2018
All of this could change, Hall cautioned, if more wildfires ignite throughout the week.

— jordan cutler-tietjen, sacbee, "Here's the air quality outlook for July 4 and beyond, amid Northern California wildfires," 3 July 2018
While the National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota cautioned against having any kind of memorial at the school for fear of copycat behavior, ABC 5 reported, the group told the TV station that Kaiden's photo should have been in the yearbook.

— lisa gutierrez, kansascity, "Her grandson killed himself. Then his school left him out of the yearbook," 18 June 2018
Martin says that friends watching in real time sent him direct messages, cautioning him not to get arrested.

— shayna freisleben, CBS News, "Black former White House staffer was moving into new apartment when someone called police," 3 May 2018
But, Dixon cautions, reality TV on SVOD is still a repetitively new phenomenon.

— scott roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, "How Netflix and Amazon Are Driving a Global Reality TV Renaissance," 9 Apr. 2018
The Atlas Tanoak, meanwhile, has a similarly brilliant visage, though VW cautioned there are currently no plans to bring the pickup to production.

— andrew j. hawkins, The Verge, "VW’s Cross Sport concept will hypnotize you with its glowing LED grille," 28 Mar. 2018
Even if they are found, though, officials have cautioned that getting them to safety could take time and even require the boys to learn the basics of scuba.

— tassanee vejpongsa, chicagotribune.com, "Thai soccer players missing inside flooded cave: 'Where is my child?'," 26 June 2018
Others have cautioned that the Army’s internal culture is hesitant to replace human expertise with machine.

— james vincent, The Verge, "The US Army is using machine learning to predict when combat vehicles need repair," 26 June 2018

First Known Use of caution

1683

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

caution Synonyms

Synonyms

advise, alert, forewarn, wake, warn;

Near Antonyms

imperil, risk;

apprise, inform, notify, tip (off);

admonish;

bode, forebode (also forbode), foreshadow, foretoken, portend;

CAUTION Defined for English Language Learners

caution

noun

Definition of caution for English Language Learners

: care taken to avoid danger or risk : a careful attitude or way of behaving
: a warning telling someone to be careful
law : a spoken official warning given to someone who has done something illegal but has not committed a serious crime