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.
The Met Office yellow alert lasts from 21:00 GMT on Saturday until 21:00 on Sunday.
From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026
North East England, North West England, Yorkshire and Humber and south-west England have a yellow alert for the same period.
From BBC • Aug. 11, 2025
It has issued a yellow alert which means that the heat is tolerable for the general public but can cause moderate health concerns for infants, the elderly and people with chronic diseases.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2025
The yellow alert for strong winds, which may lead to some disruption, covers all of Northern Ireland and comes into effect at 03:00 GMT on Sunday until 15:00.
From BBC • Feb. 22, 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.
