warn

[wawrn]

verb (used with object)

1. 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.

   Synonyms: forewarn

2. to urge or advise to be careful; caution.

   to warn a careless driver.

3. to admonish or exhort, as to action or conduct.

   She warned her employees to be on time.

4. to notify, advise, or inform.

   to warn a person of an intended visit.

5. 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.

6. to give authoritative or formal notice to (someone); order; summon.

   to warn a person to appear in court.

verb (used without object)

1. to give a warning; caution.

   to warn of further disasters.

warn

/ wɔːn /

verb

1. to notify or make (someone) aware of danger, harm, etc

2. (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

3. (takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to inform (someone) in advance

   he warned them that he would arrive late

4. (tr; usually foll by away, off, etc) to give notice to go away, be off, etc

   he warned the trespassers off his ground

Other Word Forms

• warner noun
• prewarn verb (used with object)
• rewarn verb (used with object)
• unwarned adjective
• well-warned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of warn¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English warnen, Old English warnian; cognate with German warnen; ware ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of warn¹

Old English wearnian; related to Old High German warnēn, Old Norse varna to refuse

Synonym Study

Warn, caution, admonish imply attempting to prevent another from running into danger or getting into unpleasant or undesirable circumstances. To warn is to speak plainly and usually in strong terms: to warn him about danger and possible penalties. To caution is to advise about necessary precautions, to put one on one's guard about possibly harmful circumstances or conditions, thus emphasizing avoidance of undesirable consequences: to caution him against driving in such weather. Admonish suggests giving earnest, authoritative advice with only tacit references to danger or penalty: to admonish a person for neglecting his duties.

Example Sentences

The team urged members of the public to respect serious weather warnings.

From BBC

When students miss school, it’s a warning sign for school counselors and mental health clinicians.

From Los Angeles Times

As America’s democracy rapidly collapses, there are public voices in the news media and political class who are warning about the evils of a new Red Scare.

From Salon

Some members warn a shift away from localised strategy could risk alienating the very voters who delivered the breakthrough wins in 2024.

From BBC

However, the track operator said it was forced to close all lines out of Glasgow and routes in southern Scotland without warning.

From BBC

Related Words

• address 
• advise 
• alert 
• caution 
• hint 
• inform 
• instruct 
• notify 
• order 
• predict 
• prepare 
• prompt 
• recommend 
• remind 
• signal 
• suggest 
• summon 
• tell 
• threaten 
• urge