alert

[ uh-lurt ]

/ əˈlɜrt /

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See synonyms for: alert / alerted / alerts / alertly on Thesaurus.com

adjective

fully aware and attentive; wide-awake; keen: She had an alert mind.

swift; agile; nimble.

noun

an attitude of vigilance, readiness, or caution, as before an expected attack.

a warning or alarm of an impending military attack, a storm, etc.: We'd just boarded the bus when the alert sounded.

the period during which such a warning or alarm is in effect.

verb (used with object)

to warn (troops, ships, etc.) to prepare for action.

to warn of an impending raid, attack, storm, etc.: The radio alerted coastal residents to prepare for the hurricane.

to advise or warn; cause to be on guard: to alert gardeners to the dangers of some pesticides.

OTHER WORDS FOR alert

1 awake, wary, observant.

2 brisk, lively, quick, active, sprightly, spirited.

See synonyms for alert on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR alert

1 unaware.

See antonyms for alert on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about alert

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 of alert

First recorded in 1590–1600; 1940–45 for def. 4; from Italian all'erta, equivalent to all (a ) “to, on the” + erta “lookout, watchtower,” originally feminine of erto, past participle of ergere from Latin ērigere to erect

synonym study for alert

1. Alert, vigilant, watchful imply a wide-awake attitude, as of someone keenly aware of their 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: A stakeout requires watchful waiting.

OTHER WORDS FROM alert

a·lert·ly, adverba·lert·ness, nounhy·per·a·lert, adjectiveun·a·lert·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use alert in a sentence

In August, I wrote about the first of these state-sponsored alerts, Virginia’s Covidwise app.
A covid-fighting tool is buried in your phone. Turn it on.|Geoffrey Fowler|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Residents who set the region on their iPhone or Android smartphone as Maryland will receive a push notification inviting them to receive exposure notification alerts, officials said.
Maryland governor adds coronavirus restrictions as cases surge across the Washington region|Rebecca Tan, Erin Cox, Patricia Sullivan|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
We urge people to be alert for—and to avoid spreading—the following types of misinformation, which erode trust in the electoral process and in one another.
Five election misinformation campaigns to avoid resharing|By Starbird, West, & DiResta/The Conversation|November 6, 2020|Popular-Science
Concerned about the possibility of unrest on Election Day, or in the days that follow, business owners in some areas of the District are being advised to sign up for crime alerts and to keep their insurance information handy.
D.C. police and businesses prepare for possible Election Day unrest|Peter Hermann, Emily Davies|October 30, 2020|Washington Post

In February, she said, the agency alerted nursing homes and states about the need to focus on infection prevention.
As pandemic raged and thousands died, government regulators cleared most nursing homes of infection-control violations|Debbie Cenziper, Joel Jacobs, Shawn Mulcahy|October 29, 2020|Washington Post
The neighbor refused her request and instead alerted the authorities.
The 'Mommy Blogger Murderess' Lie|Andy Hinds|June 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She then changed her passwords and ended all contact with the Iranian Bolton and then alerted the office of the real one.
Iran Is Using a Neocon to Hack Its Foes|Eli Lake|May 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When phone calls alerted her to the start of the carnage she sped to the Maidan instead.
Photographs Expose Russian-Trained Killers in Kiev|Jamie Dettmer|March 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It alerted people to the fact that a lot had become complacent about the possibility of a bear attack.
In Florida, Sprawling Humans Confront the Bears Who Lived There First|Jacqui Goddard|March 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After one user spotted footsteps in the snow near the edge of a cliff, Tomnod alerted law enforcement.
Now You Can Hunt for Flight 370|Abby Haglage|March 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Again that sixth sense of impending disaster, which is perhaps bred into some men, alerted Ross.
The Time Traders|Andre Norton
The ore ship had been on a return trip to Chicago when alerted somehow by the Navy to intercept the fugitives.
The Syndic|C.M. Kornbluth
There were armed and alerted landing-parties around the grid itself, of course, but the capital city of Dara lay open.
Pariah Planet|Murray Leinster
If the dog is out in Dr. Jackson's yard, the dog is alerted and barks?
Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
Outside of the fact that everybody was alerted to this previous incident.
Warren Commission (2 of 26): Hearings Vol. II (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

British Dictionary definitions for alert

alert

/ (əˈlɜːt) /

adjective (usually postpositive)

vigilantly attentivealert to the problems

brisk, nimble, or lively

noun

an alarm or warning, esp a siren warning of an air raid

the period during which such a warning remains in effect

on the alert

on guard against danger, attack, etc
watchful; readyon the alert for any errors

verb (tr)

to warn or signal (troops, police, etc) to prepare for action

to warn of danger, an attack, etc

Derived forms of alert

alertly, adverbalertness, noun

Word Origin for alert

C17: from Italian all'erta on the watch, from erta lookout post, from ergere to build up, from Latin ērigere; see erect

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with alert

alert

see on the alert.

alert

OTHER WORDS FOR alert

OPPOSITES FOR alert

Idioms about alert

Origin of alert

synonym study for alert

OTHER WORDS FROM alert

Words related to alert

How to use alert in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for alert

Derived forms of alert

Word Origin for alert

Other Idioms and Phrases with alert