warn
verb (used with object)
to give notice, advice, or intimation to (a person, group, etc.) of danger, impending evil, possible harm, or anything else unfavorable.
had warned
-
past perfectof warn.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
L.A. firefighters had warned their department was in crisis long before the Palisades fire and the Eaton fire in Altadena cast a brighter light on the issue, Park said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2026
Analysts had warned against reading too much into knee-jerk reactions to midterm outcomes, expecting focus to return to fundamentals after the results gave some clarity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime had warned last year about the expansion of these networks, particularly into Southern Africa.
From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026
Campaigners had warned some families could face an unfair financial penalty because of delays which were not their fault.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
Both Brandon and Tori had warned her not to eat two chili-cheese dogs, but the smell overrode her common sense, and she ended up scarfing them down.
From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson
