caution

caution — noun

1. the behaviour of being very careful in what you do, so that you avoid danger, mi

1.名詞C1
釋義

the behaviour of being very careful in what you do, so that you avoid danger, mistakes, or unnecessary risks

例句

The lab technician handled the chemicals with great caution to avoid accidents.

collocation: with great caution

Dr. Okafor advised us to proceed with caution when investing in unfamiliar markets.

collocation: proceed with caution

同義詞
  • care

    more general; caution adds a sense of avoiding potential danger

  • prudence

    more formal, often about long-term decisions rather than immediate actions

  • vigilance

    focuses on staying alert and watchful over a period of time

  • wariness

    suggests distrust or suspicion of a specific threat

反義詞

用法筆記

Often used in fixed phrases such as "with caution," "exercise caution," and "proceed with caution." Frequently appears in official warnings or safety instructions.

常見錯誤

You should take caution when crossing the street.
You should use caution when crossing the street.
💡The common collocation is 'use caution' or 'exercise caution,' not 'take caution.'

2. an official spoken warning issued by the police when a person commits a minor cr

2.名詞
釋義

an official spoken warning issued by the police when a person commits a minor crime, serving as an alternative to legal prosecution

例句

The officer gave Leila a caution for riding her bicycle on the footpath after dark.

Yusuf received a police caution for shoplifting and was not taken to court.

passive: receive a caution

同義詞
  • warning

    more general; caution is specifically a formal police procedure

  • reprimand

    more formal, can be given by any authority figure, not just police

用法筆記

Chiefly British English. In the UK, a police caution is an alternative to prosecution for minor offences. "Accept a caution" and "receive a caution" are the usual collocations.

常見錯誤

The judge gave him a caution in court.
The police gave him a caution at the station.
💡A caution is given by the police, not a judge in court.

3. information or guidance given to someone to alert them about possible danger, pr

3.名詞
釋義

information or guidance given to someone to alert them about possible danger, problems, or unwanted outcomes

例句

The travel guide issued a caution about swimming in the strong coastal currents.

collocation: issue a caution

Noa's mother added a word of caution before she left for the mountain trip.

phrase: a word of caution

同義詞
  • warning

    stronger and more urgent; caution is gentler advice

  • advisory

    more formal, often official or written

  • alert

    more urgent, often about an immediate threat

用法筆記

Often found in common set phrases such as "a word of caution" or "a note of caution." Can be used with "against" to specify what action is being warned about.

常見錯誤

The doctor gave me caution to not eat too much salt.
The doctor gave me a word of caution about eating too much salt.
💡When giving advice rather than a formal warning, use the set phrase 'a word of caution.'

4. a yellow card that a football referee shows to a player who has broken the rules

4.名詞
釋義

a yellow card that a football referee shows to a player who has broken the rules, as an official warning and punishment

例句

Diego received a caution after a dangerous tackle in the second half of the match.

A second caution meant the player was sent off the field and could not return.

consequence: second caution = red card

同義詞
  • yellow card

    the everyday term fans and commentators use; caution is the official term

  • booking

    informal British term for the referee writing the player's name in the book

用法筆記

Used in British football (soccer). In official match reports, "yellow card" is more common, but "caution" is the formal term in the Laws of the Game.

caution — verb