caution
gb/kˈɔʃən/ us/kˈɔʃən/
B2
English
~ 8500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
property
1
careful attitude to avoid risk
Careful behavior so that you do not have an accident, problem, or mistake.
Usage pattern:
to exercise [caution] when [doing something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "caution" (a noun) with "careful" (an adjective), saying *"be a caution"* instead of "be careful". Use "caution" mostly in expressions like "use caution" or "with caution".
Synonyms
care (Very general and common; does not always focus on avoiding danger, but often overlaps.)
|
prudence (More formal and slightly more intellectual; often about wise, long-term decisions.)
Antonyms
recklessness (Stresses taking foolish risks without thinking about danger.)
|
carelessness (Focuses on not paying attention, even when you should.)
Collocations
exercise caution
|use caution
|with caution
|extreme caution
|proceed with caution
|urge caution
Themes
safety
|daily life
|work
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Investors are showing more caution after last year’s market crash.
- Always use extra caution when driving in heavy rain.
- The report urges caution before making any major policy changes.
- Out of an abundance of caution, the school was closed for the day.
- You should approach online health advice with great caution.
Learner examples
- You must use caution when you cross the busy road.
- The doctor told her to show caution when lifting heavy things.
- They walked with caution on the ice.
- The teacher asked the students to act with caution during the science experiment.
- We need caution when we talk about this problem.
Noun
B2
entity
2
warning or advice about danger
Words that warn someone about danger or a problem.
Usage pattern:
a [caution] about [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse "caution" where "warning" is more natural, for example on signs. On many real-life signs, native speakers prefer "Warning:" or "Danger:" instead of "Caution:" unless the risk is moderate.
Synonyms
warning (Most common everyday word; often slightly stronger or more urgent than "caution".)
|
alert (Often used for official or urgent warnings, especially in news and security contexts.)
Antonyms
reassurance (Removes or softens fear about a risk, instead of drawing attention to it.)
Collocations
a word of caution
|health caution
|safety caution
|issue a caution
|brief caution
Themes
communication
|safety
|media
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- A word of caution: these pills can make you very sleepy.
- The label carries a strong caution about possible side effects.
- Experts have issued a caution over rising levels of online fraud.
- Let me add one small caution before you decide to buy.
- The article ends with a caution that the data is still incomplete.
Learner examples
- The doctor gave him a caution about drinking too much alcohol.
- There is a caution on the box about small parts.
- Before the trip, she offered a caution about the hot sun.
- I want to give you a caution: do not share your password.
- He ignored his friend’s caution and lost a lot of money.
Verb
B2
action
3
to warn someone about risk
To tell someone to be careful because something may be dangerous or cause problems.
Usage pattern:
to caution [someone] about/against [something/doing something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "caution" without the preposition, saying *"He cautioned me this"*. Use "caution [someone] about" or "caution [someone] against" something, or "caution that" followed by a clause.
Synonyms
warn (Most common and general; "caution" can sound a bit more formal or careful.)
|
advise (Softer and more general; not always about danger, but often overlaps in recommendations.)
Antonyms
reassure (Tells someone there is no serious danger, instead of warning them about it.)
|
encourage (Pushes someone to act confidently, usually without stressing possible risks.)
Collocations
caution someone about
|caution someone against
|experts caution that
|doctors caution that
|repeatedly caution
Themes
communication
|safety
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The teacher cautioned the students against using unreliable websites for their research.
- Health officials cautioned parents about the spread of the new virus.
- I would caution you against making any quick decisions.
- Experts caution that the results are still only preliminary.
- She cautioned him about driving so fast in the rain.
Learner examples
- The guide cautioned us about snakes on the path.
- My friend cautioned me against buying that old car.
- Doctors caution that this medicine is not for children.
- I want to caution you about talking to strangers online.
- The teacher cautioned him not to cheat on the test.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
4
official police warning (esp. UK)
In British law, a formal warning from the police for a small crime, instead of going to court.
Usage pattern:
to receive a [caution] for [an offense]
Common mistake:
Learners may think a "caution" is always informal or unrecorded. In UK legal English, a caution is a specific formal measure with clear rules and effects.
Synonyms
police warning (More general description; not all police warnings are formal "cautions" in the legal sense.)
Antonyms
prosecution (Taking someone to court, instead of dealing with the offense by giving a caution.)
Collocations
police caution
|formal caution
|receive a caution
|issue a caution
|under caution
Themes
law
|crime
Examples
- He accepted a police caution for shoplifting and avoided going to court.
- The officer explained that if she admitted the offence, she would receive a caution.
- Because it was his first minor offence, he was given a formal caution.
- The suspect was interviewed under caution at the police station.
- A caution will stay on your record for several years.
Learner examples
- In the UK, the police can give you a caution for a small crime.
- He did not go to court; he only got a caution.
- The officer told him that the caution would be on his record.
- She refused the caution and chose to go to court.
- The lawyer explained what a police caution means.
Verb
technical
C2
action
5
to give an official police caution
In British law, for the police to officially warn someone for a small crime instead of taking them to court.
Usage pattern:
to caution [someone] for [an offense]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this legal sense is different from simply "warning" someone. In UK legal English, to "caution" someone is a specific formal action with legal consequences.
Synonyms
formally warn (Describes the action in general words, without the specific legal meaning of "caution".)
Antonyms
prosecute (To take legal action in court instead of dealing with the matter by issuing a caution.)
Collocations
caution someone for
|formally cautioned
|cautioned by police
|arrested and cautioned
Themes
law
|crime
Examples
- He was cautioned for possession of a small amount of cannabis.
- The teenager was arrested and later cautioned by police.
- First-time offenders are often cautioned rather than prosecuted.
- The officer decided to caution her instead of issuing a fine.
- Three people were cautioned for public disorder after the match.
Learner examples
- The police cautioned him for damaging the car.
- She was not taken to court; the police only cautioned her.
- In some cases, the police may caution young people instead of charging them.
- He was cautioned by police after the fight.
- The officer can caution you if the crime is not serious.
Noun
informal
C1
entity
6
someone amusing or striking (old-fashioned US)
Old-fashioned, mainly in US English: a person who seems very funny or unusual in how they act.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a real [caution]
Common mistake:
This sense is rare and old-fashioned. Learners may misunderstand it as related to "care" or "danger". In this informal use, it simply means someone is funny or unusual.
Synonyms
character (Very similar informal use: a person who is unusual or amusing.)
Antonyms
bore (An uninteresting person, the opposite of someone lively and amusing.)
Collocations
a real caution
|he's a caution
|she’s a caution
Themes
people
|informal
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Everyone in the office thinks he’s a real caution.
- Your grandmother is a caution; she always has some wild story to tell.
- That kid is a caution, always coming up with crazy ideas.
- She’s a caution, turning up to every event in a different costume.
- He was a caution, laughing loudly and talking to every stranger he met.
Learner examples
- Her uncle is a real caution and tells many funny stories.
- The little boy was a caution and made everyone laugh.
- They said their neighbor was a caution because he did strange things.
- My friend is a caution; you never know what he will say.
- The old man at the store is a caution and likes to joke.
Grammar
Dictionary form
caution
IPA
GB/kˈɔʃən/
US/kˈɔʃən/
Syllables & stress
cau - tion (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cau)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: caution
- Plural: caution, cautions
Verb
- Base: caution
- 3rd Person Singular: cautions
- Present Participle: cautioning
- Past: cautioned
Word family
Forms
cautions
noun
cautioning
verb
cautioned
verb
Core family
cautious
adjective B1
cautiously
adverb
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
incautious
adjective
Advanced or less common
cautiousness
noun
Expressions
a word of caution
1/ə wˈɚd əv kˈɔʃən/
fixed phrase
a brief warning or advice
A short warning or piece of advice about a possible problem or danger.
Examples
- A word of caution: the path gets very steep after the next bend.
- Let me add a word of caution before you sign the contract.
- She ended her talk with a word of caution about relying too much on technology.
treat with caution
1/tɹˈit wˈɪθ kˈɔʃən/
fixed phrase
not fully trust; be careful
To be careful about believing or using something, because it may not be correct or safe.
Examples
- Early estimates should be treated with caution.
- Any information from unknown websites must be treated with caution.
- The survey results need to be treated with caution due to the small sample size.
urge caution
1/ˈɚd͡ʒ kˈɔʃən/
fixed phrase
strongly advise being careful
To strongly tell people that they should be careful.
Examples
- Officials urge caution as heavy rains are expected this weekend.
- Consumer groups are urging caution over the new banking app.
- Experts urge caution when interpreting these early results.
use caution
1/jˈuz kˈɔʃən/
fixed phrase
be careful in a situation
To be careful in a certain situation so that nothing bad happens.
Examples
- Use caution when driving on wet or icy roads.
- Please use caution when operating this equipment.
- Campers should use caution when cooking over an open fire.
with caution
1/wˈɪθ kˈɔʃən/
fixed phrase
in a careful, risk-avoiding way
In a careful way, so that you do not have an accident, problem, or mistake.
Examples
- These chemicals are dangerous and must be handled with caution.
- Investors are advised to proceed with caution in the current market.
- Use this tool with caution around children.
approach with caution
1/əpɹˈoʊt͡ʃ wˈɪθ kˈɔʃən/
fixed phrase
Handle carefully because of risk
To be careful when dealing with something that could be dangerous or difficult.
Examples
- Police advised residents to approach the suspect with caution.
- Any new investment should be approached with caution.
approach with caution
2/əpɹˈoʊt͡ʃ wˈɪθ kˈɔʃən/
fixed phrase
deal with something very carefully
To be very careful when you start to deal with something, because it may be difficult or risky.
Examples
- These claims should be approached with caution until more evidence appears.
- Investors are approaching the new cryptocurrency with caution.
- Any unfamiliar dog should be approached with caution.
exercise caution
1/ˈɛksɚsˌaɪz kˈɔʃən/
fixed phrase
Act carefully to avoid danger
To be careful so that nothing bad happens.
Examples
- Drivers should exercise caution in icy conditions.
- We must exercise caution when handling chemicals.
exercise caution
2/ˈɛksɚsˌaɪz kˈɔʃən/
fixed phrase
act in a careful, guarded way
To be careful in what you do, so that nothing bad happens.
Examples
- Parents are urged to exercise caution when sharing photos of their children online.
- The company told staff to exercise caution when opening email attachments.
- Hikers should exercise caution during stormy weather.
proceed with caution
1/pɹoʊsˈidz wˈɪθ kˈɔʃən/
fixed phrase
go forward carefully
Keep going, but be careful and slow so you don’t have problems.
Examples
- Drivers should proceed with caution in icy conditions.
- Please proceed with caution when entering the construction area.
proceed with caution
2/pɹoʊsˈidz wˈɪθ kˈɔʃən/
fixed phrase
continue but be very careful
To keep going or continue doing something, but in a very careful way.
Examples
- Drivers are advised to proceed with caution through the construction zone.
- We should proceed with caution until we know more about the risks.
- The researchers say policymakers must proceed with caution when using the data.
throw caution to the wind
2/θɹˈoʊ kˈɔʃən tə ðə wˈɪnd/
idiom
Ignore risk or danger completely
To do something without thinking about possible problems or danger.
Examples
- She threw caution to the wind and invested all her money in stocks.
- They threw caution to the wind and went on an unplanned trip.
throw caution to the wind
6/θɹˈoʊ kˈɔʃən tə ðə wˈɪnd/
idiom
act without caring about risk
To do something without worrying about danger, risk, or bad results.
Examples
- They threw caution to the wind and invested all their savings in the start-up.
- For one night she threw caution to the wind and stayed out dancing until dawn.
- He decided to throw caution to the wind and quit his job to travel.
err on the side of caution
1/ˈɛɹ ˈɔn ðə sˈaɪd əv kˈɔʃən/
idiom
choose the safer option
To be more careful than necessary, so that you are safe, instead of taking a risk.
Examples
- Let’s err on the side of caution and bring extra supplies.
- When in doubt, it’s better to err on the side of caution.
- Doctors often err on the side of caution when treating new illnesses.
- Doctors often err on the side of caution when treating very young children.
- We decided to err on the side of caution and cancel the event due to the storm.
err on the side of caution
2/ˈɛɹ ˈɔn ðə sˈaɪd əv kˈɔʃən/
idiom
choose the safer side
To do something in a safer way than necessary because you are not sure and want to avoid any risk.
Examples
- When in doubt, it’s better to err on the side of caution.
- The school decided to err on the side of caution and cancel classes during the storm.
- Doctors often err on the side of caution when treating very young children.