alertness and prudence in a hazardous situation; care; wariness: Landslides ahead—proceed with caution.
a warning against danger or evil; anything serving as a warning: By way of caution, he told me the difficulties I would face.
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)
to give warning to; advise or urge to take heed.
verb (used without object)
to warn or advise: The newspapers caution against overoptimism.
Origin of caution
1250–1300; Middle English caucion<Latin cautiōn- (stem of cautiō) a taking care, equivalent to caut(us), past participle of cavēre to guard against (cau- take care, guard + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn--ion
Analysts have expressed some caution about the Nikola Badger, for which the company began taking preorders before announcing its manufacturer.
Nikola stock surges 40% on General Motors partnership news|dzanemorris|September 8, 2020|Fortune
Because private security officers don’t have the legal protection of the badge, they’re taught to use extra caution when exercising deadly force.
Defund the Police? Here Come the Private Security Patrols|Nick Fouriezos|August 27, 2020|Ozy
Elmer unwraps some caution tape for ratepayers in the meantime.
Morning Report: City Walks a Fine Line With Franchise Fee Deal|Voice of San Diego|August 7, 2020|Voice of San Diego
The playground equipment sat unused, swirled in caution tape due to the pandemic.
If Your Local Park Sucks, This Is Probably Why|MacKenzie Elmer|July 6, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Fisheries biologist Allen Andrews has a word of caution about the new research.
Traces from nuclear-weapons tests offer clues to whale sharks’ ages|Maria Temming|May 20, 2020|Science News For Students
Good news, in an epidemic as unpredictable as this one, must be met with caution.
How Liberia (Might Have) Beat Ebola|Abby Haglage|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While the caution that the fragility of this situation calls for cannot be overstated, neither can the successes made thus far.
How Liberia (Might Have) Beat Ebola|Abby Haglage|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was “some note of caution” attached to hiring Knox, thanks to the negativity from the case, Robinson said.
Amanda Knox, Cub Reporter: The Convicted Murderer Is Now Writing Theater Reviews for a Small Seattle Paper|Justin Miller|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Medical authorities of the day often acted less out of an “abundance of caution” than with a general callousness to humanity.
Disease History Vs. Disease Hysteria|Kevin Bleyer|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Distasteful those ads might be, but restrictions on political speech should be exercised with great deliberation and caution.
Is Big Money Politics an Overblown Evil?|David Freedlander|August 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Caution must still be observed in passing through Garningham at night.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, August 11, 1920|Various
But we would not leave this subject without a grain of caution.
The Peanut Plant|B. W. Jones
Not to fall into the hands of enemies Jack advanced with caution.
Jack North's Treasure Hunt|Roy Rockwood
Duff kept straight on in a spirit of caution, and just missed treading upon the fattest rat in the heathen parish of St. John's.
The Path of a Star|Mrs. Everard Cotes (AKA Sara Jeannette Duncan)
"Better wait until we get some word from the major," suggested Jack, who was getting some of his chum's caution.
Air Service Boys Over The Rhine|Charles Amory Beach
British Dictionary definitions for caution
caution
/ (ˈkɔːʃən) /
noun
care, forethought, or prudence, esp in the face of danger; wariness
something intended or serving as a warning; admonition
law, mainlyBritisha 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
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
informalan amusing or surprising person or thingshe's a real caution
verb
(tr)to urge or warn (a person) to be careful
(tr)law, mainlyBritishto give a caution to (a person)
(intr)to warn, urge, or advisehe cautioned against optimism
Derived forms of caution
cautioner, noun
Word Origin for caution
C13: from Old French, from Latin cautiō, from cavēre to beware
5 More Pandemic Words & Phrases People Want To Stop HearingAfter receiving over 300 submissions following our original post, we have a few additions to talk about. Here are the five most suggested pandemic words and phrases Thesaurus.com fans told us they never, ever want to hear again.