alert
Use Alert in a sentence
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adjective
1.
fully aware and attentive; wide-awake; keen: an alert mind.
2.
swift; agile; nimble.
noun
3.
an attitude of vigilance, readiness, or caution, as before an expected attack.
4.
a warning or alarm of an impending military attack, a storm, etc.: We'd just boarded the bus when the alert sounded.
5.
the period during which such a warning or alarm is in effect.
00:10
Alert
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is absquatulate. Does it mean:
| to flee; abscond: |
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
verb (used with object)
Idioms 6.
to warn (troops, ships, etc.) to prepare for action.
7.
to warn of an impending raid, attack, storm, etc.: The radio alerted coastal residents to prepare for the hurricane.
8.
to advise or warn; cause to be on guard: to alert gardeners to the dangers of some pesticides.
9.
on the alert, on guard against danger; in readiness; vigilant: The state police are on the alert for an escaped convict believed to be in the area.
Origin:
1590–1600; 1940–45 for def 4; < Italian all'erta, equivalent to all(a) to, on the + erta lookout, watchtower, orig. feminine of erto, past participle of ergere < Latin ērigere to erect
1590–1600; 1940–45 for def 4; < Italian all'erta, equivalent to all(a) to, on the + erta lookout, watchtower, orig. feminine of erto, past participle of ergere < Latin ērigere to erect
Related forms
a·lert·ly, adverb
a·lert·ness, noun
hy·per·a·lert, adjective
un·a·lert·ed, adjective
Synonyms
1. awake, wary, observant. Alert, vigilant, watchful imply a wide-awake attitude, as of someone keenly aware of his or her surroundings. Alert describes a ready and prompt attentiveness together with a quick intelligence: The tourist was alert and eager to see the sights. Vigilant suggests some immediate necessity for keen, active observation, and for continuing alertness: Knowing the danger, the scout was unceasingly vigilant. Watchful suggests carefulness and preparedness: watchful waiting. 2. brisk, lively, quick, active, sprightly, spirited.
1. awake, wary, observant. Alert, vigilant, watchful imply a wide-awake attitude, as of someone keenly aware of his or her surroundings. Alert describes a ready and prompt attentiveness together with a quick intelligence: The tourist was alert and eager to see the sights. Vigilant suggests some immediate necessity for keen, active observation, and for continuing alertness: Knowing the danger, the scout was unceasingly vigilant. Watchful suggests carefulness and preparedness: watchful waiting. 2. brisk, lively, quick, active, sprightly, spirited.
Antonyms
1. unaware.
1. unaware.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To alert
Collins
World English Dictionary
alert (əˈlɜːt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | vigilantly attentive: alert to the problems |
| 2. | brisk, nimble, or lively |
| —n | |
| 3. | an alarm or warning, esp a siren warning of an air raid |
| 4. | the period during which such a warning remains in effect |
| 5. | on the alert |
| a. on guard against danger, attack, etc | |
| b. watchful; ready: on the alert for any errors | |
| —vb | |
| 6. | to warn or signal (troops, police, etc) to prepare for action |
| 7. | to warn of danger, an attack, etc |
| [C17: from Italian all'erta on the watch, from erta lookout post, from ergere to build up, from Latin ērigere; see | |
| a'lertly | |
| —adv | |
| a'lertness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
alert
c.1600, from Fr. alerte "vigilant," from phrase à l'erte "on the watch," from It. all'erta "to the height," from erta "lookout, high tower," orig. fem. of erto, pp. of ergere "raise up," from L. erigere "raise." The adv. is the oldest form in Eng.; the adj. is from 1712, the noun from 1803, and
the verb from 1868.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
alert definition
operating system/*'l*rt/ An audible and/or visual message intended to inform a system's users or administrators about a change in the operating conditions of that system or about some kind of error condition. In a graphical user interface, an alert would typically be displayed as a small window containing the message and a button to click to dismiss the window.
(1999-03-29)
American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
| ALERT Allergy to Latex Education and Resource Team |
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
They can map out physical dangers and act as early-warning systems to alert humans to the presence of hazardous chemicals or fire.
She looks good, bright eyed and alert and she enjoyed the bath.
Your two phones will alert you so that you can share a taxi.
The incidents put scientists and the conservation community on alert.
Idioms & Phrases
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