# cautioned

/ˈkɑʃənd/ (US) · /kˈɔːʃənd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cautioned
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

feeling or acting with care because you want to avoid danger or mistakes.

For teachers: characterised by or showing care and forethought to avoid risk. Often used as a participial adjective to describe a person's mood or a specific approach to a problem.

## Examples

- He took a cautioned approach to the new investment.
- The diplomat gave a cautioned response to the reporters, careful not to reveal any classified details.
- Even after the initial success, the team remained cautioned, knowing that the final phase of the experiment carried the highest risk of failure.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He was caution about the dog." but "He was cautious about the dog." — Learners often confuse the past participle 'cautioned' with the standard adjective 'cautious'; 'cautioned' implies someone has been warned, while 'cautious' describes a personality trait.

## Usage notes

- Often follows linking verbs like 'remain' or 'stay'; can also be used attributively before a noun.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.