Military. a network of radar installations designed to detect enemy aircraft or missiles in time for the effective deployment of defense systems.
any series of steps established to spot potential problems.
a network of radar and communications units intended to detect at the earliest possible moment an attack by enemy aircraft or missiles
anything that gives advance notice of something
First recorded in 1945–50
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rinz’s research points to an early-warning system that may flag trouble ahead.
From Barron's ● May 22, 2026
An upgrade to California’s earthquake early-warning system using GPS data will allow more timely alerts about shaking and better estimate the magnitude of a megaquake.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2024
The researchers are now actively working on identifying compounds and microbes in the water column that serve as an early-warning system for coral reefs under stress.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 13, 2024
What’s more, an over-the-horizon early-warning system the Soviet Union built in Ukraine in 1976 had been shuttered by the end of the Cold War.
From Science Magazine ● Nov. 17, 2023
You crackled when you neared his desk—his early-warning system.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
The 61-year-old, a previous president of the UN General Assembly, has suggested creating an "early warning" system to detect and flag signs of impending conflict.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
Researchers have figured out how to develop hurricane warnings, tsunami warnings, even an earthquake early warning system.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Duan believes these hairs may have evolved as an early warning system that alerts mammals when insects or parasites come into contact with sensitive areas of the body.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
Back then, the depth of the lake was reduced by about 3.5m as part of a $3.5m risk reduction project, which included the early warning system.
From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026
The early warning system worked perfectly in Fukushima prefecture.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
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.
