precaution

noun

pre·​cau·​tion pri-ˈkȯ-shən How to pronounce precaution (audio)
1
: care taken in advance : foresight
warned of the need for precaution
2
: a measure taken beforehand to prevent harm or secure good : safeguard
take the necessary precautions
precautionary adjective

Examples of precaution in a Sentence

Be sure to follow the usual safety precautions when cooking outdoors. When driving, she always wears her seatbelt as a precaution. Every home owner should take precautions against fire. She took the precaution of packing extra medicine for the trip.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Health officials said Beans & Barley and the infected employee have been cooperative and that the employee took precautions after developing symptoms. Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 18 Nov. 2024 Others, however, are already taking precautions after having experienced his first round of economic policies. Rob Wile, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024 More than 16,000 Bay Area customers went without power Wednesday as Pacific Gas & Electric took precautions to lessen the chances of sparking a wildfire as most of the region remained under a red flag warning that began Tuesday. Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024 Across the country, law enforcement, political leaders and election workers are bracing for a tumultuous end to the election and taking precautions. Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for precaution 

Word History

Etymology

French précaution, from Late Latin praecaution-, praecautio, from Latin praecavēre to guard against, from prae- + cavēre to be on one's guard — more at hear

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of precaution was in 1599

Dictionary Entries Near precaution

Cite this Entry

“Precaution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precaution. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

precaution

noun
pre·​cau·​tion pri-ˈkȯ-shən How to pronounce precaution (audio)
1
: care taken in advance : foresight
2
: a measure taken beforehand to prevent harm or to bring about a good result
take precautions against fire
precautionary adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on precaution

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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