warning
Americannoun
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the act or utterance of one who warns or the existence, appearance, sound, etc., of a thing that warns.
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something that serves to warn, give notice, or caution.
We fired a warning at the intruders.
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Meteorology. an announcement from the U.S. National Weather Service alerting the public that a storm or other weather-related hazard is imminent and that immediate steps should be taken to protect lives and property.
adjective
noun
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a hint, intimation, threat, etc, of harm or danger
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advice to beware or desist
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an archaic word for notice
adjective
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(prenominal) intended or serving to warn
a warning look
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(of the coloration of certain distasteful or poisonous animals) having conspicuous markings, which predators recognize and learn to avoid; aposematic
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of warning
First recorded before 900; Middle English (noun); Old English war(e)nung “precaution”; see warn, -ing 1, -ing 2
Explanation
A warning is a caution against something dangerous. When there's a shark warning at the beach, the lifeguards will order everyone out of the water. When you receive a warning, you get an official advance notice of some impending problem. A crow might caw loudly as a warning when it sees a cat, and a traffic cop might give a first-time speeder a warning instead of an expensive ticket. You can also use warning as an adjective: "The warning light came on in her car as it started to overheat."
Vocabulary lists containing warning
"Encounter"
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"Volcano!"
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Messenger
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"You must stay away from the southern coastline," Little said in a statement, warning that emergency workers would not be coming to help anyone who stayed behind.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
The National Residential Landlord Association said demands for large upfront payments were a major warning sign.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
In August 2014, Walker sent Gates what appeared to be a warning about Epstein: Gates should maintain “a healthy distance for anything of a personal nature” when dealing with Epstein.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
Iran’s military said the fusillade was a warning.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
The question flew out of me without warning.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
