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
EsquireExamples 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 Web
Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 25 June 2025
She was transported to the hospital out of an abundance of caution.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2025
Still, the report cautions that quality and consumer trust remain essential.
—Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for caution
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Noun
So, out of an abundance of caution, in 1999 the AAP and the U.S. Public Health Service issued a joint statement that recommended that thimerosal be removed from childhood vaccines.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 25 June 2025
She was transported to the hospital out of an abundance of caution.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Verb
The above expert, who is also an associate professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, cautioned that the particular profiles of ear wax VOCs reported in the recent study may differ from findings from other studies.
—Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2025
Still, the report cautions that quality and consumer trust remain essential.
—Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for caution
Cite this Entry
“Caution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caution. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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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