CAUTION

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does caution mean? 

• CAUTION (noun)
  The noun CAUTION has 4 senses:

1. the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger

2. a warning against certain acts

3. judiciousness in avoiding harm or danger

4. the trait of being circumspect and prudent

  Familiarity information: CAUTION used as a noun is uncommon.

• CAUTION (verb)
  The verb CAUTION has 1 sense:

1. warn strongly; put on guard

  Familiarity information: CAUTION used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CAUTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

carefulness; caution; cautiousness

Context example:

a man of caution

Hypernyms ("caution" is a kind of...):

attentiveness (the trait of being observant and paying attention)

Antonym:

incaution (the trait of forgetting or ignoring possible danger)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A warning against certain acts

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

caution; caveat

Context example:

a caveat against unfair practices

Hypernyms ("caution" is a kind of...):

warning (a message informing of danger)

Derivation:

caution (warn strongly; put on guard)

cautionary (serving to warn)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Judiciousness in avoiding harm or danger

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

care; caution; forethought; precaution

Context example:

he handled the vase with care

Hypernyms ("caution" is a kind of...):

judiciousness (good judgment)

Derivation:

cautious (showing careful forethought)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The trait of being circumspect and prudent

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

caution; circumspection

Hypernyms ("caution" is a kind of...):

discernment; discretion (the trait of judging wisely and objectively)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "caution"):

precaution (the trait of practicing caution in advance)

chariness; wariness (the trait of being cautious and watchful)

• CAUTION (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they caution    ... he / she / it cautions   
Past simple: cautioned   
Past participle: cautioned   
-ing form: cautioning   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Warn strongly; put on guard

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

admonish; caution; monish

Hypernyms (to "caution" is one way to...):

warn (notify of danger, potential harm, or risk)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

caution (a warning against certain acts)

 Context examples 

And now you see the deadly urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to caution.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

With a last word of caution that he should say nothing as to our researches, we turned our faces westward once more.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I remembered Wolf Larsen’s caution.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Before the Professor left the room I cautioned him against getting any false impression from my patient.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Sherlock Holmes stopped at a door some little distance from the Carlton, and, cautioning me not to speak, he led the way into the hall.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He cautions that the research is still in its early stages but is excited about the possibility of expanding his research.

(The Dog's Nose Knows Malaria, Kevin Enochs/VOA)

If you are striving to find the fair division of property in a divorce, you can make progress at the February 8-9 full moon, but I caution you not to finalize your agreement.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

This caution is necessary, to prevent the country from being overburdened with numbers.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

"Think hard," he cautioned, just as she was opening her mouth to speak.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

His carriage was one of mingled triumph and caution.

(White Fang, by Jack London)