cautiousadjective
uk/ˈkɔː.ʃəs/us/ˈkɑː.ʃəs/B2 Someone who is cautious avoids risks:
He's a cautious driver.
B2 A cautious action is careful, well considered, and sometimes slow or uncertain:
a cautious approach
cautious criticism
cautious optimism
a feeling that there are some reasons to hope for a good result, even if you do not expect complete success or improvement
More examples
- The prime minister was extremely cautious, saying nothing inflammatory and giving no hostages to fortune.
- Judging from your exam results, I think you have cause for cautious optimism about getting a university place.
- Their supporters gave the decision a cautious welcome.
- He is too cautious to be a great leader.
- I think you should be cautious about trying to change their views.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Cautious and vigilant
- askance
- attentive
- belt and braces idiom
- better safe than sorry idiom
- better the devil you know (than the devil you don't) idiom
- due diligence
- gingerly
- guarded
- intent
- jealous
- narrowly
- once
- once bitten, twice shy idiom
- precise
- prudent
- sedulous
- slowly
- vigilance
- vigilant
- wary
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Paying attention and being careful
cautiously
adverb uk/ˈkɔː.ʃəs.li/us/ˈkɑː.ʃəs.li/
in a cautious way
cautiousness
noun [ U ] uk/ˈkɔː.ʃəs.nəs/us/ˈkɑː.ʃəs.nəs/