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
Garfield Hylton, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2025
The big new corporate bet: Bitcoin Corporate treasury departments are usually bastions of caution, preferring to invest their companies’ money in stable assets like Treasury bonds.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Ian Shepherd, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Researchers caution that restoration alone isn’t enough to save reefs without wider action on climate change.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for caution 
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Noun
Small craft should also exercise caution in Atlantic waters.
—Garfield Hylton, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2025
The big new corporate bet: Bitcoin Corporate treasury departments are usually bastions of caution, preferring to invest their companies’ money in stable assets like Treasury bonds.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
However, industry experts caution that such focus on cost reduction could have broader implications for the market.
—Ian Shepherd, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Researchers caution that restoration alone isn’t enough to save reefs without wider action on climate change.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for caution
Articles Related to caution
Dictionary Entries Near caution
Cite this Entry
“Caution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caution. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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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