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alert

[uh-lurt]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR alert ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

fully aware and attentive; wide-awake; keen: 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.

Idioms

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

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

Synonyms for alert

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR alert ON THESAURUS.COM

1. awake, wary, observant. 2. brisk, lively, quick, active, sprightly, spirited.

Synonym study

1. 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.

Antonyms for alert

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for alerted

inform, alarm, notify, forewarn, signal, tip, flag

Examples from the Web for alerted

Contemporary Examples of alerted

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
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
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
This is not the first time the Washington Post has alerted the White House to the error.
No, Women Don’t Make Less Money Than Men
Christina Hoff Sommers
February 1, 2014
He also alerted the Wall Street Journal in an interview that was the first time I met Sharon.
My Moments With Ariel Sharon
Seth Lipsky
January 11, 2014

Historical Examples of alerted

He could feel the alerted tension of the four as the golden eyes glowed at him.
Join Our Gang?
Sterling E. Lanier
You see, Mr. Masterson's alerted people at the Commissioner's office.
The Best Made Plans
Everett B. Cole
"They'll be alerted down there for a reconnaissance sally," he said.
Control Group
Roger Dee
All detachments in the area have been alerted to watch for the Sampaguita.
The Pirates of Shan
Harold Leland Goodwin
As Zircon had said, they had to assume the whole colony was alerted.
The Pirates of Shan
Harold Leland Goodwin

British Dictionary definitions for alerted

alert

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 Formsalertly, 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

Word Origin and History for alerted

alert

adv.

"on the watch," 1590s, from French alerte "vigilant" (17c.), from phrase à l'erte "on the watch," from Italian all'erta "to the height," from erta "lookout, high tower," noun use of fem. of erto, past participle of ergere "raise up," from Latin erigere "raise" (see erect). The adjective is attested from 1610s, the noun from 1803, and the verb from 1868. Related: Alerted; alerting.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with alerted

alert

see on the alert.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.