adjective
definition
Careful; using or exercising caution; tentative
example
He took a few cautious steps toward the cave.
Examples of cautious in a Sentence
Her tone was cautious but respectful.
This invader was very cautious and avoided much of our security.
He watched closely, appearing amused and cautious, like a husband watching his wife learn to box.
Charles IV., a cautious sovereign with many cares, was as anxious for the maintenance of peace as Casimir himself.
The more cautious generals were accused of corruption in not supporting Chares.
Newton accepted the three subclasses of Huxley, Saururae, Ratitae and Carinitae, and made a series of cautious but critical observations on the minor divisions of the Carinates.
I wasn't speeding and I'm far too cautious not to have all my lights operating properly.
Above all, try to be respectful and cautious with the old prince.
Always cautious, I stop, watch and listen.
We welcome everyone with open arms but are cautious nonetheless.
Tim trusted her, but Brady was cautious, suspecting she was unwitting of Tim's activities in the PMF.
It's made me cautious and appreciative of the importance of self-reliance.
Cynthia gave her husband a cautious glance.
They decided against it, cautious about frightening off Byrne if he should get wind of the search and realize someone was this close to finding him.
He was met by Alva with cautious tactics.
As king the loss and failure of friends made him cautious, suspicious and cruel.
She was much too cautious and expressed no interest.
If Sam was going to take care of the horses, it was important that she know which ones to be cautious with.
The Church of Rome has discouraged these daring tactics in favour of the more cautious and probably more defensible positions of Aquinas.
Bianca took one cautious step onto the frozen waves.
If this is Byrne we're chasing, he's cautious as a clam.
I was liking this guy, but still cautious.
Byrne was a loner and super cautious.
Undoubtedly also commercial confidence was restored by the reconstruction in 1895 of the Bank of New Zealand, and activity has been stimulated by large public loans, while more cautious banking and the systems of taxation and rating on land values, adopted in 1891 and 1896, have done something to check land speculation.
We must, however, be cautious to remember that the south of Italy was comparatively unaffected.
Other ancient Christian authors were not so cautious.
In reality the young tsar had no intention of embarking on wild political adventures, and was fully determined not to let his hand be forced by men less cautious than himself.
For a time, therefore, the Protestants had to be cautious in Poland proper, but they found a sure refuge in Prussia, where Lutheranism was already the established religion, and where the newly erected university of Konigsberg became a seminary for Polish ministers and preachers.
The opportunity came with the old king's death in 1625, for James, with all his pedantry, was too wise and cautious to embark in Laud's rash undertakings, and had already shown a prudent moderation, after setting up bishops in Scotland, in going no further in opposition to the religious feelings of the people.
In his foreign policy Horn was extremely wary and cautious, yet without compromising either the independence or the self-respect of his country.
After a cautious advance the eagerness of the troops finally overcame the hesitation of the commander in exposing his men, the rifle pits were carried with a rush, and the rebellion crushed at a single stroke.
If you're buying a vehicle but are uncertain about the registered owner's identity, you should be very cautious.
These, with other inscriptions on stone and on bronze plates brought home by Englishmen, found a cautious and sound interpreter in Osiander.
At last either the authorities became more strict or Wild less cautious.
After two years he gave up his cautious policy and took a bold move.
He made no secret of his Lutheran views, and his outspokenness brought him into collision, not only with the Catholic Rigsraad, but also with his cautious and temporizing father.
Because fear makes us cautious.
If her pulse were any indication, she should be happy – and cautious.
He was grave and gay, affable and dignified, cruel and gentle, mean and generous, eager for fame yet not vain, impulsive and cautious, secretive and open.
Unlike some of his predecessors, he had no grand, original schemes of his own to impose by force on unwilling subjects, and no pet crotchets to lead his judgment astray; and he instinctively looked with a suspicious, critical eye on the panaceas which more imaginative and less cautious people recommended.
The young emperor was frank and cordial; Frederick was more cautious, for he detected under the respectful manner of Joseph a keen ambition that might one day become dangerous to Prussia.
His intellect was far-seeing and acute, quick and yet cautious, meditative, methodical and free from prejudice.
He was a successful leader in guerilla warfare, alert and quick, yet cautious - a man, moreover, whose personal bravery was unquestioned.
Being a master of its methods, but very cautious in accepting assertions about its results, he secured attention early in the Free Church for scientific criticism, and yet threw the whole weight of his learning and his caustic wit into the argument against critical extravagance.
Be very cautious about using the snowblower on a slippery driveway.
You can never be too cautious when a stranger is coming to your home.
Pick pocketing is a concern for anybody, but it is wise to be extra cautious when wearing handbag styles which prevent you from seeing the bag portion at all times.
The Virgo male is often an uncannily cautious individual.
Anyone swapping files on any P2P network needs to be cautious, consider the source of the files they are downloading, and make sure their virus protection system is always updated.
As always, be cautious about downloading and make sure your virus protection and firewall are up to date.