warn

[ wawrn ]

verb (used with object)

1. to give notice, advice, or intimation to (a person, group, etc.) of danger, impending evil, possible harm, or anything else unfavorable:

   They warned him of a plot against him. She was warned that her life was in danger.

   Synonyms: forewarn

2. to urge or advise to be careful; caution:

   to warn a careless driver.

3. to admonish or exhort, as to action or conduct:

   She warned her employees to be on time.

4. to notify, advise, or inform:

   to warn a person of an intended visit.

5. to give notice to (a person, group, etc.) to go, keep at a distance, etc. (often followed by away, off, etc.):

   A sign warns trespassers off the grounds. A marker warned boats away from the dock.

6. to give authoritative or formal notice to (someone); order; summon:

   to warn a person to appear in court.

verb (used without object)

1. to give a warning; caution:

   to warn of further disasters.

warn

/ wɔːn /

verb

1. to notify or make (someone) aware of danger, harm, etc
2. tr; often takes a negative and an infinitive to advise or admonish (someone) as to action, conduct, etc

   I warn you not to do that again

3. takes a clause as object or an infinitive to inform (someone) in advance

   he warned them that he would arrive late

4. tr; usually foll by away, off, etc to give notice to go away, be off, etc

   he warned the trespassers off his ground

Derived Forms

• ˈwarner, noun

Other Words From

• warner noun
• pre·warn verb (used with object)
• re·warn verb (used with object)
• un·warned adjective
• well-warned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of warn¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English warnen, Old English warnian; cognate with German warnen; ware ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of warn¹

Old English wearnian; related to Old High German warnēn, Old Norse varna to refuse

Synonym Study

Warn, caution, admonish imply attempting to prevent another from running into danger or getting into unpleasant or undesirable circumstances. To warn is to speak plainly and usually in strong terms: to warn him about danger and possible penalties. To caution is to advise about necessary precautions, to put one on one's guard about possibly harmful circumstances or conditions, thus emphasizing avoidance of undesirable consequences: to caution him against driving in such weather. Admonish suggests giving earnest, authoritative advice with only tacit references to danger or penalty: to admonish a person for neglecting his duties.

Example Sentences

Be warned that all that coziness might make it virtually impossible to get out of bed in the morning.

From Popular-Science

Although a new report by the department’s Office of Inspector General does not attribute any deaths directly to the Marshals’ policies, it does warn that agency practices “may lead to further infections.”

From Washington Post

Republicans are also warning of a new precedent being set that could subject former presidents, even dead ones, to a Senate trial.

From Washington Post

Unfortunately, although the bill's authors try to thread a tricky needle carefully, critics warn that bad-faith actors could nonetheless easily weaponize the bill as written against both platforms and other users.

From Ars Technica

Coastal scientists warn that the structures can be just as damaging to Hawaii’s beaches as seawalls, which have contributed to the loss of about one-quarter of the beaches on Oahu, Maui and Kauai.

From ProPublica

In the United States, people used to warn against taking wooden nickels.

From The Daily Beast

I speak here to warn people that the facts presented in the opera are incomplete and distorted.

From The Daily Beast

You said that shutting down a newspaper is not the right way to warn those who may have infringed on the law.

From The Daily Beast

I mean he did choose to warn him instead of have him killed.

From The Daily Beast

Nor did he warn the hospital that the book is being published this week.

From The Daily Beast

When he met Jean on the street—rather, after, he goes around to where Orlean worked to warn her.

From Project Gutenberg

"Warn the men, and arrange tanks and chutes accordingly; for Harvey Cheyne is in a hurry, a hurry—hurry," sang the wires.

From Project Gutenberg

For example, if it were a kicking horse, he should warn the bailee to keep away from his legs.

From Project Gutenberg

Why, he sent his man down here, t'other day, to warn me to keep my hens shut up and off his property.

From Project Gutenberg

The fact is, I wish to warn you against what must inevitably bring disaster both upon yourself and your family.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• address
• advise
• alert
• caution
• hint
• inform
• instruct
• notify
• order
• predict
• prepare
• prompt
• recommend
• remind
• signal
• suggest
• summon
• tell
• threaten
• urge