yellow alert
Americannoun
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(in military or civilian defense) the first alert given when enemy aircraft are discovered approaching a military installation, city, coastline, etc.
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the signal or alarm sounded for this alert.
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any primary stage of alert, as when toxic chemicals have escaped in a particular area and a potential hazard exists.
Etymology
Origin of yellow alert
First recorded in 1965–70
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.
Heatwave conditions are expected to remain more widely in the north-west of England, East Midlands, east of England, London and the south-east, where a yellow alert is in effect for the same period.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
A yellow alert, indicating that significant impact is possible, covers the north-east.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
Parts of the west Highlands, Argyll and the Western Isles saw heavy snow after the forecaster issued a yellow alert.
From BBC ● Apr. 5, 2026
A yellow alert for snow affects most of the mainland north of Perth from 03:00 until 18:00 on Tuesday, after the Highlands saw its first snowfall of the season last week.
From BBC ● Nov. 17, 2025
Until further notice, we must proceed under a yellow alert during daylight hours and a red alert at night.
From The Test Colony by Marks, Winston K.
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.
