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.
was warning
-
past progressiveof warn.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
By mid-April, the International Energy Agency was warning that Europe could run out of jet fuel in six weeks.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
Sitting across from Holmes, Fielder said, he found her “sort of honest and charming,” even as his brain was warning him, “No, don’t trust.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
In 2021 Bill Gates was warning that the equator would become unlivable as he promoted his book, “How to Avoid A Climate Disaster.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 13, 2025
The breakthrough moment came during his autism press conference, when the president repeatedly stumbled over the word acetaminophen—you know, the very drug he was warning the entire nation to avoid.
From Slate ● Sep. 26, 2025
He was warning me so 1 could get out before someone insulted me.
From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin
