warning

[ wawr-ning ]

/ ˈwɔr nɪŋ /

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noun

the act or utterance of one who warns or the existence, appearance, sound, etc., of a thing that warns.

something that serves to warn, give notice, or caution: We fired a warning at the intruders.

Meteorology. an announcement from the U.S. National Weather Service alerting the public that a storm or other weather-related hazard is imminent and that immediate steps should be taken to protect lives and property.Compare advisory(def 5), storm warning(def 2), watch(def 20).

adjective

serving to warn, advise, caution: a warning bell.

Nearby words

warne, warner, warner robins, warner, charles dudley, warner, glenn scobey, warning, warning coloration, warning track, warningly, warp, warp and woof

Origin of warning

before 900; Middle English (noun); Old English war(e)nung precaution; see warn, -ing¹, -ing²

SYNONYMS FOR warning

2 caution, admonition, advice; omen, sign, portent, augury, presage.

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Related formswarn·ing·ly, adverb

Definition for warning (2 of 2)

warn

[ wawrn ]

/ wɔrn /

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

to urge or advise to be careful; caution: to warn a careless driver.

to admonish or exhort, as to action or conduct: She warned her employees to be on time.

to notify, advise, or inform: to warn a person of an intended visit.

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.

to give authoritative or formal notice to (someone); order; summon: to warn a person to appear in court.

verb (used without object)

to give a warning; caution: to warn of further disasters.

Origin of warn

before 1000; Middle English warnen, Old English warnian; cognate with German warnen. Cf. ware²

SYNONYMS FOR warn

1 forewarn.

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Related forms

warn·er, nounpre·warn, verb (used with object)re·warn, verb (used with object)un·warned, adjective

well-warned, adjective

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.

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

Examples from the Web for warning

There were also crashes not due to either mechanical or human error but to a lack of warning of dangerous conditions.
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly?|Clive Irving|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The government continues to call for calm while warning people to be on their guard.
France’s Wave of Crazy-Terror Christmas Attacks|Christopher Dickey|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But we both know the warning signs and know what to do if that should happen.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We prefer to wave away the warning signs; like The Interview, Mulholland Drive was comfortably downplayed as over-the-top satire.
Pyongyang Shuffle: Hollywood In Dead Panic Over Sony Hack|James Poulos|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

And if any police were warning bars against serving the Santas, “that would be improper behavior by a government official.”
Before the Bros, SantaCon Was as an Anti-Corporate Protest|David Freedlander|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The monarch was admonished to ask no more, but he disregarded the warning.
The Mysteries of All Nations|James Grant
"That is not the way to speak, sir," he said sternly, while the constable pressed a warning hand on James's shoulder.
With Wolfe in Canada|G. A. Henty
But before he could speak further, the other clapped a warning hand over his mouth.
The New Land|Elma Ehrlich Levinger
But as far as I recollect, that warning, inexorable as it was, only touched the question of ammunition.
Experiences of a Dug-out, 1914-1918|Sir Stanley Maude
They would certainly have noticed the warning bleak northern sky and other indications of the coming storm.
The Trail Horde|Charles Alden Seltzer

British Dictionary definitions for warning (1 of 2)

warning

/ (ˈwɔːnɪŋ) /

noun

a hint, intimation, threat, etc, of harm or danger

advice to beware or desist

an archaic word for notice (def. 6)

adjective

(prenominal) intended or serving to warna warning look

(of the coloration of certain distasteful or poisonous animals) having conspicuous markings, which predators recognize and learn to avoid; aposematic

Derived Formswarningly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for warning (2 of 2)

warn

/ (wɔːn) /

verb

to notify or make (someone) aware of danger, harm, etc

(tr; often takes a negative and an infinitive) to advise or admonish (someone) as to action, conduct, etcI warn you not to do that again

(takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to inform (someone) in advancehe warned them that he would arrive late

(tr; usually foll by away, off, etc) to give notice to go away, be off, etche warned the trespassers off his ground

Derived Formswarner, noun

Word Origin for warn

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

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 warning

warn

Old English warnian "to give notice of impending danger," also intransitive, "to take heed," from West Germanic *warnojanan (cf. Old Norse varna "to admonish," Old High German warnon "to take heed," German warnen "to warn"); related to Old English wær "aware, cautious" (see wary). Related: Warned; warning.

warning

noun

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of warning

Definition for warning (2 of 2)

warn

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of warn

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for warning

British Dictionary definitions for warning (1 of 2)

warning

noun

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for warning (2 of 2)

warn

verb

Word Origin for warn

Word Origin and History for warning

warn