red alert
Americannoun
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(in military or civilian defense) the most urgent form of alert, signaling that an enemy attack is believed to be imminent.
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the signal or alarm sounded for this alert.
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a signal or warning that a critical situation is developing or has occurred.
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the period during which a state of crisis or danger is declared to exist.
Etymology
Origin of red alert
First recorded in 1960–65
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.
France's national weather service had issued a red alert for avalanche risk for the area on Thursday.
From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026
And when Google released its latest model to positive reactions, Altman issued a "red alert," urging OpenAI teams to give ChatGPT their best efforts.
From Barron's • Dec. 16, 2025
Understandably therefore, the officials are on red alert, desperate to ensure any dangerous tackles or collisions don't slip through the net.
From BBC • Nov. 25, 2025
Fresh floods struck Spain on Sunday as part of the northeastern Catalonia region faced a red alert for torrential rain, a day after downpours unleashed travel chaos on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza.
From Barron's • Oct. 12, 2025
For the kill shot, I posted it and Crew Chrissie with a blinking red alert on the Brandywine Hollows HS community page, which the teachers and administrators checked all the time.
From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin
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.
