Cautious vs Precaution - What's the difference?

cautious | precaution |


As an adjective cautious

is careful; using or exercising caution; tentative.

As a noun precaution is

precaution.

cautious

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • careful; using or exercising caution; tentative
    • He took a few cautious steps out the door.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * neglecting * careless

    Derived terms

    * overcautious

    precaution

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Previous caution or care; caution previously employed to prevent mischief or secure good; as, his life was saved by precaution.
  • * John Henry Newman
    • The ancient philosophers treasured up their supposed discoveries with miserable precaution .
  • A measure taken beforehand to ward off evil or secure good or success; a precautionary act.
    • to take precautions against risks of accident

    Derived terms

    * precautionary

    See also

    * prevention

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (transitive): To warn or caution beforehand. --.
  • (rare): To take precaution against. --.