cautious

6 definitions • 9 examples

Someone who is cautious avoids risks:

He's a cautious driver.

A cautious action is careful, well considered, and sometimes slow or uncertain:

a cautious approach

cautious criticism

a feeling that there are some reasons to hope for a good result, even if you do not expect complete success or improvement:

Environmental groups are expressing cautious optimism that an agreement to protect the area can be reached.

not acting quickly in order to avoid risks; careful:

Most doctors are cautious about advising you to have surgery.

Auto companies are taking a cautious approach toward introducing electric cars.

very careful about what you do or say and unwilling to take risks because you want to avoid possible problems:

be cautious about sth/about doing sth Businesses have become cautious about spending on technology.

a cautious approach/strategy He said the group would continue its cautious approach to expanding in Japan until it better understood the market.

a feeling that you can be hopeful about a situation although you realize that there still could be problems:

There is cautious optimism for a successful outcome for the financial year.