Word
cautious
Phoneticscau·tious, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɔʃəs/
UK/kˈɔːʃəs/
Definition
adj. careful to avoid potential problems or dangers. You act this way when you want to be safe and not take unnecessary risks.
adj. characterised by the avoidance of potential risks or dangers; showing forethought and care. Often follows a linking verb or precedes a noun.
Examples
“He is very cautious when driving in the rain.”
“The investors remained cautious despite the positive news, waiting for more data before committing their capital.”
“A cautious approach to the new policy may prevent the administrative errors that plagued the previous rollout, though it risks slowing down the necessary reforms.”
Examples
simple
“He is very cautious when driving in the rain.”
contextual
“The investors remained cautious despite the positive news, waiting for more data before committing their capital.”
complex
“A cautious approach to the new policy may prevent the administrative errors that plagued the previous rollout, though it risks slowing down the necessary reforms.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “cautious” in context.
Verb
01. proceed with cautious optimism
“The board decided to proceed with cautious optimism regarding the new merger.”
verb + prep + adj
02. remain cautious
“Investors are advised to remain cautious until the market stabilizes.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. cautious about the future
“Many young people are cautious about the future of the global economy.”
adj + prep
04. cautious to avoid mistakes
“She was cautious to avoid mistakes while filling out the legal documents.”
adj + infinitive
05. extremely cautious
“The surgeon was extremely cautious during the delicate procedure.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. cautious approach
“The government adopted a cautious approach to easing the lockdown restrictions.”
adj + noun
07. cautious welcome
“The new policy received a cautious welcome from environmental activists.”
adj + noun
Usage
Often takes the preposition 'about' or 'of' when referring to a specific concern.
Pitfall
He is cautious for the dog
He is cautious of the dog
When expressing wariness of a specific thing, use 'of' or 'about' rather than 'for'.
Real-World Examples
“As economic uncertainty continues, many workers are becoming more cautious about taking the next step in their careers.” “He adds that he should have taken a more cautious approach to investing in tech stocks.” Etymology
From caution (“from Latin cautus”) + -ous.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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