View synonyms for

warn

[ wawrn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

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.
Synonyms:
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.

warn

/ ��ɔː�� /

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, etc
I warn you not to do that again
takes a clause as object or an infinitive to inform (someone) in advance
he warned them that he would arrive late
tr; usually foll by away, off, etc to give notice to go away, be off, etc
he warned the trespassers off his ground

Discover More

Derived Forms

ˈ�ɲ��Ա��, noun

Discover More

Other Word Forms

�ɲ��İ� noun
��·�ɲ�� verb (used with object)
��·�ɲ�� verb (used with object)
�ܲ�·�ɲ��Ա�� adjective
�ɱ��-�ɲ��Ա�� adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of warn¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English warnen, Old English warnian; cognate with German warnen; ware ²

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of warn¹

Old English wearnian; related to Old High German �ɲ��ŧ��, Old Norse varna to refuse

Discover More

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.

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Earlier this month conservationists warned that some of the UK's rarest wildlife is being "torched alive" and pushed closer to extinction after weeks of intense grass fires.

From

Deutsche Bank AG this week warned of a structural downtrend for the dollar in the coming years, which could knock the U.S. currency to its weakest level in more than a decade against the euro.

From

Argentine producers warn they may both lose US access and face more Chinese imports, creating increased competition for domestic producers.

From

The Oscar-nominated actor had been given a warning after Siwa accused him of being "homophobic", before being removed after a confrontation with former Love Island star Hughes.

From

"Today, WFP delivered its last remaining food stocks to hot meals kitchens," it warned.

From

Related Words

warm welcome Warne

Browse