cautious

Definitions

caut (from cavēre 'to beware') + -ious (full of) = 'full of caution.' A cautious person is filled with watchfulness — they slow down and weigh the risks before acting. It describes deliberate care, not fear.

Common Collocations

• 1.cautious approach谨慎的做法
• 2.cautious optimism谨慎的乐观
• 3.remain cautious保持谨慎
• 4.cautious estimate保守的估计
• 5.overly cautious过于谨慎

Example Sentences

• 1.

  She is a cautious driver who always checks her mirrors twice.

• 2.

  Investors remained cautious about the volatile stock market.

• 3.

  He gave a cautious answer, careful not to promise too much.

Easily Confused

cautious vs careful — careful means giving attention to avoid mistakes or damage in general (be careful with the glass). cautious specifically implies wariness about risk or danger, often before committing to something (a cautious investor). All cautious people are careful, but you're cautious mainly when there's potential danger ahead.