- [uncountable] care that you take in order to avoid danger or mistakes; the fact of not taking any risks
- extreme/great caution
- with caution Statistics should be treated with caution.
- He could find himself making enemies as well as friends unless he proceeds with the utmost caution.
Synonyms carecarecaution ▪ prudenceThese are all words for attention or thought that you give to something in order to avoid mistakes or accidents.care attention or thought that you give to something that you are doing so that you will do it well and avoid mistakes or damage:- She chose her words with care.
- The utmost caution must be exercised when handling explosives.
- As a matter of prudence, keep a record of all your financial transactions.
- to do something with care/caution/prudence
- great/extreme care/caution/prudence
- to use/exercise care/caution/prudence
- to proceed with care/caution
Extra ExamplesTopics Personal qualitiesc1- I must stress the need for caution.
- The information on the website should be treated with some caution.
- The utmost caution must be exercised when handling explosives.
- They proceeded with due caution.
- We urge caution in the use of this medication.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- extra
- extreme
- …
- exercise
- take
- use
- …
- with caution
- err on the side of caution
- the need for caution
- sound a note of caution
- …
- [countable] (British English) a warning that is given by the police to somebody who has committed a crime that is not too serious
- As a first offender, she got off with a caution.
- They let her off with a caution.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- formal
- get off with
- receive
- give somebody
- …
- [uncountable, countable] (formal) a warning or a piece of advice about a possible danger or risk
- a word/note of caution
- Some cautions must be mentioned—for example good tools are essential to do the job well.
Extra ExamplesTopics Suggestions and advicec1, Dangerc1- Some cautions must be kept in mind when interpreting these results.
- Some companies have sounded a note of caution about the outlook for the second half of this year.
- The board sounded a note of caution about the economy.
- I would just like to add a word of caution.
Word OriginMiddle English (denoting bail or a guarantee; now chiefly Scots and US): from Latin cautio(n-), from cavere ‘take heed’.
Idioms
See caution in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee caution in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishthrow/cast caution to the wind(s)
- to stop caring about how dangerous something might be; to start taking risks
- He threw caution to the wind and dived into the water after the child.
Check pronunciation:
caution