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A precaution is an action taken in advance to prevent something negative from happening or to lessen the impact of the negative thing if it does happen.

This sense of precaution is often used with the verb take, as in take precautions or take every precaution.��

Precaution can also refer to caution in advance of something (which leads one to take such precautions).

It can also be used as a verb meaning to warn. However, this is uncommon. The verb caution is more commonly used to mean this.

Precaution has two adjective forms: precautious, meaning being careful by actively preparing to avoid something negative, and precautionary, which is used to describe things done as a precaution, as in precautionary measures.��

Example: Officials said they have taken every available precaution to secure the city in advance of the storm.

The first records of the word precaution come from around 1600. Precaution combines the prefix pre–, meaning “before,” with the noun caution (alertness or care in what could be a bad situation).

So how is precaution different from caution? The key difference is the pre-. Precaution implies action taken before something actually happens. A person using caution is being careful, especially in general or during a dangerous situation. A person taking precautions has anticipated something negative and is doing something to prepare so that it doesn’t happen or that it won’t be quite as bad if it does. A person boarding up windows before a hurricane hits is taking precautions. A person who always prepares for the worst case scenario has a sense of precaution.

When used in the phrase just a precaution, the word often implies that the bad thing probably won’t happen, and that the precaution has been taken to be extra careful.

What are some other forms related to precaution?��

• precautionary (adjective)
• precautious (adjective)

What are some synonyms for precaution?��

• precautionary measure

What are some words that share a root or word element with precaution?��

• cautionary
• caveat
• prepare

What are some words that often get used in discussing precaution?

• take
• every
• available
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• danger
• prepare
• careful

Precaution is most often used in the context of serious situations that involve real danger.

Hurricane is now a Category 4 hurricane.

Folks, if you are in the Carolinas or Virginia — this is a historic storm.

Take every available precaution. Help your neighbors. Do not underestimate this hurricane.

— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus)

As a precaution, police and are advising residents in vicinity of Leeds Road, Huddersfield to keep doors and windows shut following a chemical leak at a plant in that area.

— West Yorkshire Police (@WestYorksPolice)

Astronauts are pros when it comes to quarantine, it's something they all must do. Although they are around people today, they are all still taking this very seriously. Everyone keeps their distance and takes several precautions to ensure their health and safety are prioritized.

— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL)

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Which of the following examples refers to an action that would be considered a precaution?

A. Stepping carefully across a rickety bridge.
B. Putting on a life jacket before going on a boat.
C. Charging wildly into battle without a plan.