cautiouscau‧tious /ˈkɔːʃəs $ ˈkɒː-/ ●●○ adjective 
a cautious driver a cautious approach to the crisis The air-pollution board has reacted with cautious optimism to the announcement.cautious about (doing) something Keller is cautious about making predictions for the success of the program.—cautiousness noun [uncountable]
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I've always been cautious about giving people my phone number.
- If we're too cautious, we might lose a good business opportunity.
- Phil's a very cautious driver - it'll take at least an hour to get there.
- Again, if the cost is substantial, be cautious of committing more than a few months in advance.
- Bucket shops with more to hide are often more cautious when it comes to recruitment.
- Employers who establish retirement plans must be cautious about engaging in transactions with their plans.
- He also showed cautious sympathy for homosexuals.
- I went back on the singles circuit even though the break with Vic should have made me cautious.
- It pays to be cautious at first and increase the groundbait amount if things go well.
- Overnight Riley Hanson had become a cautious braggart.
- The fluctuations in the federal unemployment rates for the states keep local economists cautious about relying on them.
Longman Language Activatorcareful to avoid risks or danger
someone who is careful tries to avoid danger, risks, or accidents: · You'll be OK with Jane - she's a very careful driver.· Paints today are getting safer as companies remove harmful chemicals, but you still need to be careful.careful (that): · We had to be careful that we didn't tip the raft over.
someone who is cautious does not like taking risks and is always very careful to avoid them: · If we're too cautious, we might lose a good business opportunity.· Phil's a very cautious driver - it'll take at least an hour to get there.cautious about: · I've always been cautious about giving people my phone number.
if you do something with care or with caution , you do it carefully in order to avoid accidents: · Some roads may be icy and motorists are advised to drive with caution.handle something with care: · These antiques are fragile and must be handled with care.
someone who is wary does not easily trust people and thinks very carefully before getting involved in any situation that might be dangerous or cause problems: wary of: · She had become extremely wary of relationships as a result of her childhood experiences.· Wary of becoming entangled in her friend's family quarrels, Eileen made an excuse and left.wary about: · The problems with selling the house had made her much more wary about financial matters.keep a wary eye on somebody/something (=watch something or someone carefully): · One of the guards was fiddling with his radio, all the time keeping a wary eye on the five prisoners.
formal always paying attention to what is happening, so that you notice any danger or illegal activity: · Be vigilant on public transport and at tourist sites, as pickpockets operate in these areas.vigilant about: · We have to be vigilant about protecting our right to privacy.remain vigilant: · The terrorist threat is still real, and the public should remain vigilant.ever vigilant (=always vigilant): · We must be ever vigilant. Don't think that Fascism can never rise again. It can.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The air-pollution board has reacted with cautious optimism to the announcement.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
careful to avoid danger or risks: The air-pollution board has reacted with cautious optimism to the announcement.· China has followed a more cautious approach.
(=the belief that a future situation will be good or better than before, although you cannot be not sure)· The U.N. sees cause for cautious optimism in what has been achieved so far.· He expressed guarded optimism about the company's future.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Therefore, are we not wise in being extremely cautious before we hand over our money supply to a third party?· Her answers are short and extremely cautious.· Spiders, too, must be extremely cautious in their courtship.· Dissonance is most powerful in a generally consonant context - hence the need to be extremely cautious in its use.· These are extremely cautious recommendations, redeemed only by the hope of a more robust analysis in future.
· While I might have recommended a more cautious approach, I said to myself, Courage, Wadlough.· Sadler, however, was more cautious.· In such situations, hopes for a less active, more cautious and realistic, less expansive foreign policy were slim.· Nicholas, however, proved to be significantly more cautious than the men around him.· Others prefer a more cautious approach.· Bucket shops with more to hide are often more cautious when it comes to recruitment.· As a result, he is far more cautious than Mr Ozawa on deregulation.
· She hazarded only the tiniest, and most cautious, opinions.
· Or had he been too cautious, too frightened of his increasing visibility?· I thought Leese was being too cautious.· Rather than concluding that I had been too radical in Opposition, I fast came to the view 1 had been too cautious.
· It is, I might say, a very cautious company.· The first step of that booted foot on to the moon was very, very cautious.· Remember to use light weights and be very cautious when first exercising the spinal erectors.· I was very cautious on takeoff and avoided the old machine-gun position by making a sharp turn as we cleared the trees.· Most Roman sculptors were very cautious about supporting large blocks of marble.· Phil was always a fearless seaman, and I am a very cautious one.· She has not been out with anyone else since this happened, and is very cautious about having any other relationships.· What we've got is a very cautious policy.
NOUN· Wiser counsel suggested a more cautious approach.· While I might have recommended a more cautious approach, I said to myself, Courage, Wadlough.· Left: sometimes you need a cautious approach to appreciate the views.· Others prefer a more cautious approach.· In our view, however, the cautious approach is not to ignore the epidemiological evidence of declining semen quality.· I urge, therefore, a cautious approach to the ascertainment of the intention of the legislature.· A number of factors influenced this highly cautious approach by central government, local councils, the police and the courts.· He has preached pragmatism towards Moscow and a cautious approach to economic reform.
· It is just that, for a normally cautious man, I feel dangerously out of my depth in this situation.· A cautious man would have inspected the properties he was lending against, for nothing but property underpinned the loans.· Mostly he did not abuse this position, for he is a cautious man.· After that, Eurystheus, a cautious man, would not let him inside the city.· But his lordship's grandfather was a cautious man, and provided himself with a secret way out at need.· Normally a cautious man, Kragan felt the glimmer of satisfaction spread within him.
· There are grounds for cautious optimism.· None the less, there is cautious optimism at the dawning of a new age.· A cautious optimism spread within the liberal intelligentsia, and the writers, especially, initiated calls for greater artistic freedom.· This year 184 dealers took part compared to 176 in 1992 and a number of participants expressed cautious optimism.· There was cautious optimism from ISPs after the announcement was made public yesterday.
· Liberal politicians also gave a cautious welcome to the appointment.
a cautious driver a cautious approach to the crisis The air-pollution board has reacted with cautious optimism to the announcement.cautious about (doing) something Keller is cautious about making predictions for the success of the program.—cautiousness noun [uncountable]