1
: warning, admonishment
Her comments were intended as a caution to us to protect our property.
2
: precaution
a surgeon taking the caution of sterilizing his instruments
3
: prudent forethought to minimize risk
Use caution when operating a chain saw.
4
: one that astonishes or commands attention
some shoes you see … these days are a caution—
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Examples of caution in a Sentence
Noun
You should use caution when operating the electric saw.
He injected a note of caution in his talk.
Her financial adviser urged caution before investing in the project.
The roads are slippery: drive with extreme caution.
Her comments were intended as a caution to us to protect our property.
A note of caution: be sure that the electricity is off before you install the ceiling fan.
She was given a caution by the magistrate.
Verb
Officials are cautioning that the war may continue for years.
“Don't decide too quickly,” she cautioned.
He was cautioned for speeding.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sophie Kiderlin,jenni Reid,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2024
Fully horizontal meant that oncoming traffic should stop; when the arms were lowered to a 30-degree tilt, traffic could proceed with caution.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Dec. 2024
Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Fischer, though, cautioned the court against caving to public clamor or media criticism.
—Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for caution 
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Noun
Western leaders have greeted the overthrow of the Assad dynasty by rebel forces with caution, fearing a power vacuum and more instability in the region.
—Sophie Kiderlin,jenni Reid,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2024
Fully horizontal meant that oncoming traffic should stop; when the arms were lowered to a 30-degree tilt, traffic could proceed with caution.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
Still, Horgan cautions that kids’ shows tend to build their audiences more slowly on streaming, compared to tent-poles targeted at adults, which benefit from big marketing and publicity campaigns.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Fischer, though, cautioned the court against caving to public clamor or media criticism.
—Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for caution
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Dictionary Entries Near caution
Cite this Entry
“Caution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caution. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
caution
1 of 2 noun
cau·tion
ˈkȯ-shən 
1
2
: carefulness in regard to danger
3
: someone or something that astonishes or catches one's attention
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