caution
verb/ˈkɔːʃn/
/ˈkɔːʃn/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they caution | /ˈkɔːʃn/ /ˈkɔːʃn/ |
| he / she / it cautions | /ˈkɔːʃnz/ /ˈkɔːʃnz/ |
| past simple cautioned | /ˈkɔːʃnd/ /ˈkɔːʃnd/ |
| past participle cautioned | /ˈkɔːʃnd/ /ˈkɔːʃnd/ |
| -ing form cautioning | /ˈkɔːʃənɪŋ/ /ˈkɔːʃənɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to warn somebody about the possible dangers or problems of something
- caution against (doing) something I would caution against getting too involved.
- caution somebody against/about (doing) something Sam cautioned him against making a hasty decision.
- caution (somebody) that… The government cautioned that pay increases could lead to job losses.
- caution somebody to do something Employees were cautioned to be careful about what they said to people outside the company.
- caution (somebody) + speech ‘I’d take care if I were you,’ she cautioned (him).
- [transitive] caution somebody (British English, law) to warn somebody officially that anything they say may be used as evidence against them in court
- Suspects must be cautioned before any questions are asked.
- [transitive, usually passive] (British English, law) to warn somebody officially that they will be punished if they do something wrong or illegal again
- be cautioned (for something) She wasn't sent to the juvenile court; instead she was cautioned.
Word OriginMiddle English (denoting bail or a guarantee; now chiefly Scots and US): from Latin cautio(n-), from cavere ‘take heed’.
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caution