Words / B2

pri-KORSHUN/prɪˈkɔːʃn/

A precaution is a step to prevent harm: take precautions, as a precaution, safety precautions. Care is everyday; prevention is the wider goal; insurance is financial protection. Precautionary is the adjective (a precautionary recall). In speech, just in case is enough. Do not call a treatment after harm a precaution — that is a response — and take precautions against + noun is a common pattern.

Meaning

Something you do to prevent possible harm or trouble (take precautions).

Examples

• “As a precaution, the flight was delayed while the engine was checked.”
• “As a precaution the flight waited while engineers checked a warning light.”
• “Walkers are advised to take precautions against ticks in long grass.”

Good to know

take precautions; as a precaution; precautions against. Everyday: just in case. After harm: a response, not a precaution. Adjective: precautionary.

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