Caution — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈkȯ-shən/ cau·tion

Meaning & Definition of Caution

Caution (noun)

  1. warning, admonishment
  2. precaution
  3. prudent forethought to minimize risk

Caution (verb)

  1. to advise caution to, warn

Caution (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or risk

    "the doctor cautioned that I should still be careful using my sprained wrist for the next several days"

    similar: advise, alert, forewarn, wake, warn
    related: augur, forecast, foretell, harbinger, predict, presage, prognosticate, prophesy, apprise, inform, notify, tip (off), admonish, bode, forebode, foreshadow, foretoken, portend
    near: imperil, risk

Caution (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a close attentiveness to avoiding danger

    "the extreme caution with which the zookeeper handled the snake"

    similar: alertness, care, carefulness, cautiousness, chariness, circumspection, gingerliness, guardedness, heedfulness, prudence, wariness
    related: attentiveness, observance, vigilance, watchfulness, foresight, foresightedness, providence, calculation, canniness, deliberateness, deliberation, shrewdness
    opposite: brashness, carelessness, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, recklessness, unwariness
    near: abruptness, hastiness, impetuousness, precipitousness, rashness, suddenness, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness

  2. something extraordinary or surprising

    "how she manages to drive her car without destroying the neighborhood is a caution"

    similar: flash, marvel, miracle, phenomenon, portent, prodigy, sensation, splendor, wonder
    related: curiosity, sight, spectacle, beauty, corker, crackerjack, dandy, jim-dandy, knockout, apparition, appearance

  3. something that tells of approaching danger or risk

    "this is just a caution that the following paragraph practically gives away the entire plot of the movie"

    similar: red flag, red light, tip-off, tocsin, wake-up call, warning, handwriting on the wall
    related: omen, portent, premonition, presage, notice, notification, buoy, indicator, knell, sign, signal, foretaste, foretoken, announcement, declaration
    near: all clear, go-ahead, green light, OK, permission

  4. the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk

    "we heeded the police officer's caution about the road ahead"

    similar: admonishment, admonition, alarm, alert, forewarning, heads-up, notice, warning
    related: auguring, augury, forecasting, foretelling, predicting, prediction, premonition, presaging, prognosticating, prophecy, prophesying, apprising, informing, notification, notifying, tip-off, advice, counsel, guidance, recommendation, suggestion, tip, announcement, declaration

  5. a measure taken to preclude loss or injury

    "the standard caution of donning surgical gloves before performing any kind of dental work"

    similar: fail-safe, palladium, precaution, preventive, safeguard
    related: armor, cover, guard, protection, screen, shield, wall, ward

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Caution

The most common words with a similar meaning to Caution:

advise, alert, forewarn, wake, warn, alertness, care, carefulness, cautiousness, chariness, circumspection, gingerliness, guardedness, heedfulness, prudence, wariness, flash, marvel, miracle, phenomenon, portent, prodigy, sensation, splendor, wonder, red flag, red light, tip-off, tocsin, wake-up call, warning, admonishment, admonition, alarm, forewarning, heads-up, notice, fail-safe, palladium, precaution

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Caution

Words with the opposite meaning of Caution:

brashness, carelessness, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, recklessness, unwariness

Related Words for Caution

augur, forecast, foretell, harbinger, predict, presage, prognosticate, prophesy, apprise, inform, notify, tip (off), admonish, bode, forebode, foreshadow, foretoken, portend, attentiveness, observance, vigilance, watchfulness, foresight, foresightedness, providence, calculation, canniness, deliberateness, deliberation, shrewdness

Near Antonyms of Caution

imperil, risk, abruptness, hastiness, impetuousness, precipitousness, rashness, suddenness, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness, all clear, go-ahead, green light, OK, permission

Word Forms of Caution

Inflections: cautioned, cautioning

Derived words: cautionary (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Caution

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

First known use: 1566

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Caution

Words & Phrases Containing Caution

throw/fling/cast caution to the wind

Frequently Asked Questions about Caution

What does "Caution" mean?

"Caution" means warning, admonishment. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: warning, admonishment. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Caution"?

Other words for "Caution" include advise, alert, forewarn, wake, warn, alertness, care and carefulness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Caution" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Caution"?

There are 122 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Caution". Common alternatives include advise, alert, forewarn, wake, warn, alertness, care, carefulness, cautiousness and chariness.

What is the opposite of "Caution"?

Antonyms of "Caution" include brashness, carelessness, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, recklessness and unwariness. Near antonyms include imperil, risk, abruptness and hastiness.

How do you use "Caution" in a sentence?

Examples of "Caution" in a sentence: "the doctor cautioned that I should still be careful using my sprained wrist for the next several days"; "the extreme caution with which the zookeeper handled the snake"; "how she manages to drive her car without destroying the neighborhood is a caution".

Is "Caution" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Caution" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Caution" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Caution" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Caution"?

"Caution" is pronounced /ˈkȯ-shən/ and divided into syllables as cau·tion.