cautious
KAW-shuhs
Cautious (adj) means Careful to avoid risk, mistakes, or danger. Example: “Investors remain cautious about the volatile market.”
adj
1
Careful to avoid risk, mistakes, or danger.
"Investors remain cautious about the volatile market."
"She took a cautious approach to introducing the new medication."
"He gave a cautious smile, unsure whether the news was good."
How to use cautious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCareful and unwilling to take unnecessary risks.
Common pairings
cautious optimism
a cautious approach
remain cautious
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more cautious
- Superlative
- most cautious
Fill the gap
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Investors remain _____ about the volatile market.
Etymology
From caution + -ous, echoing Latin cautus.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cautious
See all rhymes for cautious →Frequently asked questions
What does “cautious” mean?
The word “cautious” means careful to avoid risk, mistakes, or danger. In plain terms, careful and unwilling to take unnecessary risks.
How do you pronounce “cautious”?
“Cautious” is pronounced KAW-shuhs (/ˈkɔːʃəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “cautious” in a sentence?
Here is “cautious” used in a sentence: “Investors remain cautious about the volatile market.”
What is the opposite of “cautious”?
The opposite of “cautious” — its antonyms — are careless, incautious, neglecting, aggressive and uncautious.
What part of speech is “cautious”?
“Cautious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “cautious” come from?
The word “cautious” comes from Latin. From caution + -ous, echoing Latin cautus.
Is “cautious” a common word?
“Cautious” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "cautious" and "careful"?
"Cautious" specifically emphasizes avoiding risk, danger, or mistakes, often implying wariness or hesitation before acting. "Careful" is broader and can simply mean paying close attention to detail, without necessarily implying concern about danger.
What preposition follows "cautious"?
"Cautious" is typically followed by "of" or "about," as in "cautious of strangers" or "cautious about spending." Both forms are standard in English.
Is "cautious" a positive or negative trait?
"Cautious" is generally viewed as a positive or neutral trait, describing someone who avoids unnecessary risk. However, in excess, it can carry a mildly negative connotation of being overly hesitant or slow to act.
