warn
to give notice, advice, or intimation to (a person, group, etc.) of danger, impending evil, possible harm, or anything else unfavorable: They warned him of a plot against him. She was warned that her life was in danger.
to urge or advise to be careful; caution: to warn a careless driver.
to admonish or exhort, as to action or conduct: She warned her employees to be on time.
to notify, advise, or inform: to warn a person of an intended visit.
to give notice to (a person, group, etc.) to go, keep at a distance, etc. (often followed by away, off, etc.): A sign warns trespassers off the grounds. A marker warned boats away from the dock.
to give authoritative or formal notice to (someone); order; summon: to warn a person to appear in court.
to give a warning; caution: to warn of further disasters.
Origin of warn
1synonym study For warn
Other words for warn
Other words from warn
- warner, noun
- pre·warn, verb (used with object)
- re·warn, verb (used with object)
- un·warned, adjective
- well-warned, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use warn in a sentence
In August 2013, his mother had warned police that Brice was being radicalized and influencing Bertrand.
France’s Wave of Crazy-Terror Christmas Attacks | Christopher Dickey | December 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe preacher gave sheriff deputies permission to search his SUV but warned them “there was something bad” inside.
Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault | M.L. Nestel | December 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTYou kind of just have to watch it, but be warned you may find it disturbing.
Star Wars Christmas Lights, Unedited Footage of a Bear, and More Viral Videos | The Daily Beast Video | December 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThis concern ceased after the Spanish warned of severe punitive measures on the family members of suicides.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind | Brin-Jonathan Butler | December 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“If she has not answered the phone, we should not be doing this,” my translator warned.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind | Brin-Jonathan Butler | December 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Beginners must be warned against mistaking the edges of cells, or particles which have retained the red stain, for bacilli.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddSuch an admission, coming from her brave lips, warned Frank that he must call a halt regardless of loss of time.
The Red Year | Louis TracyLieutenant Colonel Buell, in command at Independence, although repeatedly warned, allowed himself to be surprised.
The Courier of the Ozarks | Byron A. Dunn“This accompanied it,” said Winifred, with a restraint that might have warned her hearer of the passion it strove to conceal.
The Red Year | Louis TracyThe popping of dry, scrubby timber warned us that our position would soon be untenable.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair
British Dictionary definitions for warn
/ (wɔːn) /
to notify or make (someone) aware of danger, harm, etc
(tr; often takes a negative and an infinitive) to advise or admonish (someone) as to action, conduct, etc: I warn you not to do that again
(takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to inform (someone) in advance: he warned them that he would arrive late
(tr; usually foll by away, off, etc) to give notice to go away, be off, etc: he warned the trespassers off his ground
Origin of warn
1Derived forms of warn
- warner, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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