What does precaution mean?
Word: Precaution
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Precaution means something you do beforehand to stop harm or trouble from happening.
Synonyms: safety measure, care
Antonyms: carelessness, negligence
How do you spell precaution?
Syllables: pre - cau - tion
Tricky part: The middle has au, the same as in sauce; students write precation or precuation.
Watch out for: precation, precawtion, precuation
Memory tip: Pre means before: a precaution is care you take before any trouble can start.
Precaution in a sentence
Example 1: As a precaution, the school kept the children indoors during the dust storm.
Example 2: Carrying a raincoat in July is a simple precaution against getting soaked.
Example 3: The doctor advised boiling drinking water as a precaution during the monsoon.
Fun Fact
The Met Office in the UK issues colour-coded weather warnings: amber asks people to be prepared and red asks them to act, and news reports usually add a list of precautions.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
precau_i_n
a) t, o
b) c, o
c) t, a
d) s, o
Show answer
a) t, o. The ending is the one you see in nation and lotion.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters to find the word that fits the sentence:
Wear a helmet on your bike as a tcouapnier, even for short rides.
a) perception
b) production
c) projection
d) precaution
Show answer
d) precaution. A helmet worn just in case is a precaution; the a and the u in the jumble fit it and none of the other three.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. safty 2. hazzard 3. warnning 4. precaution
a) a step taken ahead of time to avoid trouble
b) the state of being free from harm
c) something that could cause harm
d) a sign or message about possible danger
Show answer
a) a step taken ahead of time to avoid trouble. Hazard has one z, warning one n in the middle, and safety keeps the e of safe; precaution is the one to define.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word precaution as used in the sentence:
Keeping a first-aid box on the school bus is a sensible precaution.
a) mistake
b) safeguard
c) habit
d) reward
Show answer
b) safeguard. The box is there to protect children if something goes wrong, which is a safeguard.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Before a long road trip, a sensible precaution is ____.
a) leaving the map at home
b) checking the tyres and brakes
c) turning the music up loud
d) skipping breakfast
Show answer
b) checking the tyres and brakes
2. A precaution is something done ____.
a) quickly, to show off skill
b) afterwards, to repair damage
c) slowly, to save money
d) in advance, to avoid trouble
Show answer
d) in advance, to avoid trouble
