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

In 1989, when climate politics was still fledgling, he warned that the effects of warming were going to prove explosive along America’s borders — and that, left unresolved, communities could disintegrate into violence.

From Salon

Economists have warned that such tariffs could drive up consumer prices as companies pass on higher costs, potentially worsening inflation and putting further interest rate cuts on hold.

From Salon

The Local Government Association has welcomed the extra funding for councils but warned they still face significant pressures in areas like adult and children's social care and homelessness support.

From BBC

“The destruction is so substantial that it indicates the intention to permanently displace many people,” it warns.

From BBC

Coltart feels it is not just the Church that is to blame, and suggests other institutions in the UK need to face up to their failure to warn people in Zimbabwe.

From BBC

Related Words

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