Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense warns, present participle warning, past tense, past participle warned
1. verb
If you warn someone about something such as a possible danger or problem, you tell them about it so that they are aware of it.
When I had my first baby, friends warned me that children were expensive. [VERB noun that]
They warned him of the dangers of sailing alone. [V n + of/about]
Analysts warned that Europe's most powerful economy may be facing trouble. [VERB that]
He also warned of a possible anti-Western backlash. [VERB + of]
Synonyms: notify, tell, remind, inform More Synonyms of warn
2. verb
If you warn someone not to do something, you advise them not to do it so that they can avoid possible danger or punishment.
Mrs. Blount warned me not to interfere. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
Children must be warned to stay away from main roads. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
'Don't do anything yet,' he warned. 'Too risky.' [VERB with quote]
'Keep quiet, or they'll all come out,' they warned him. [VERB noun with quote]
I wish I'd listened to the people who warned me against having the operation. [VERB noun + against]
Mr Lowe warned against complacency. [Vagainst n/-ing]
Synonyms: advise, urge, recommend, counsel More Synonyms of warn
3.
See be warned
Phrasal verbs:
See warn away
See warn off
warn in British English
(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
warner (ˈwarner)
noun
Word origin
Old English wearnian; related to Old High German warnēn, Old Norse varna to refuse
warn in American English
(wɔrn)
verb transitive
1.
to tell (a person) of a danger, coming evil, misfortune, etc.; put on guard; caution
2.
to caution about certain acts; admonish
warned against smoking in the building
3.
to notify in advance; inform
4.
to give notice to (a person) to stay or keep (off, away, etc.)
verb intransitive
5.
to give warning
SIMILAR WORDS: adˈvise
Derived forms
warner (ˈwarner)
noun
Word origin
ME warnien < OE wearnian < IE base *wer-, to heed > guard
Examples of 'warn' in a sentence
warn
The following month he warned again about the economic damage that reliance on wind power would do.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The funeral firm blamed the hospital for not warning the pair about the cost.
The Sun (2016)
She warns against the dangers of sending out mixed signals.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is more likely he will be given just a ticking off and warned about his conduct.
The Sun (2016)
Councils across the country have warned of its dangers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He took his players aside to warn them about it yesterday.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But he warned with any action 'we have to be more realistic in what is deliverable'.
The Sun (2016)
The action will include warning patients and doctors of the risks of misuse, improving surveillance of the problem and reducing the concentrations of antibiotics used in agriculture.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You are warned time and again you could jeopardise the case.
The Sun (2013)
Teachers are obviously not warning pupils about the dangers properly.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Pakistan complained that it had not been warned in advance.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Yesterday police warned against the dangers of legal highs.
The Sun (2014)
The letter warned that possible sanctions included being removed from privileged work parties.
The Sun (2013)
Security officials warned that actions by a small number of passengers could still cause chaos.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He had been warned again and again but failed to take action.
The Sun (2012)
His taking us into an illegal war stoked the very menace he warns about.
The Sun (2014)
None of the nine households had been warned in advance.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Public health experts have long warned of the dangers of snacking.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He warns of possible failure unless thousands more troops are sent.
The Sun (2009)
He warned that future action was in the offing.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
And he will again warn them about their conduct in talks today.
The Sun (2016)
But diners are not warned in advance the chicken they will be eating is halal.
The Sun (2014)
He will beat a goalkeeper with a sudden shot when there was little warning of danger.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And last night union chiefs warned of further action unless employers meet their six per cent demand.
The Sun (2008)
But be warned that advance tickets are not as flexible as buying on the day.
The Sun (2012)
Air safety experts have warned about the dangers of transporting batteries.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He was in a serious condition last night after two operations and doctors warned of possible brain damage.
The Sun (2008)
Police have warned her about his past and it is known that medics are worried about the relationship.
The Sun (2008)
Change it again - and warn friends not to release it.
The Sun (2008)
Marine pilots were advised to drop warning messages on the towns or villages concerned, allowing civilians time to get away.
Mcinnes, Colin & Sheffield G.D (eds.) Warfare in the Twentieth Century (1988)
They have the power to advise, warn, reprimand or remove a judge for misconduct.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But, not unlike a constitutional monarch, he has the ability to advise and to warn the chain of command.
Richard Holmes Dusty Warriors: Modern Soldiers at War (2006)
In other languages
warn
British English: warn /wɔːn/ VERB
of danger If you warn someone about a possible danger or problem, you tell them about it so that they are aware of it.
UN officials warn of disease and famine.
Friends had warned me that children were expensive.
American English: warn
Arabic: يُحَذِّرُ
Brazilian Portuguese: advertir
Chinese: 警告
Croatian: upozoriti
Czech: varovat
Danish: advare
Dutch: waarschuwen
European Spanish: advertir
Finnish: varoittaa
French: prévenir
German: warnen
Greek: προειδοποιώ
Italian: avvertire
Japanese: 警告する
Korean: 경고하다
Norwegian: advare
Polish: ostrzec
European Portuguese: advertir
Romanian: a avertiza
Russian: предупреждать
Latin American Spanish: advertir
Swedish: varna
Thai: เตือน
Turkish: uyarmak
Ukrainian: попереджати
Vietnamese: cảnh báo
British English: warn VERB
of problem If you warn someone not to do something, you advise them not to do it so that they can avoid possible danger or punishment.
She warned me not to interfere.
American English: warn
Brazilian Portuguese: avisar
Chinese: 警告
European Spanish: advertir
French: prévenir
German: warnen
Italian: avvertire
Japanese: 警告する
Korean: 경고하다
European Portuguese: avisar
Latin American Spanish: advertir
Chinese translation of 'warn'
warn
(wɔːn)
vt
to warn sb that警告某人 ... (jǐnggào mǒurén ... )
vi
to warn of sth警告提防某事 (jǐnggào dīfang mǒushì)
"War may break out," he warned"战(戰)争(爭)可能会(會)爆发(發)，"他警告道 ("zhànzhēng kěnéng huì bàofā, " tā jǐnggào dào)
to warn sb not to do sth告诫(誡)某人不要做某事 (gàojiè mǒurén bùyào zuò mǒushì)
to warn sb of sth警告某人某事 (jǐnggào mǒurén mǒushì)
to warn sb against sth告诫(誡)某人提防某事 (gàojiè mǒurén dīfang mǒushì)
to warn against doing sth告诫(誡)不准做某事 (gàojiè bùzhǔn zuò mǒushì)
All related terms of 'warn'
to warn of sth
警告提防某事 jǐnggào dīfang mǒushì
to warn sb that
警告某人 ... jǐnggào mǒurén ...
to warn sb of sth
警告某人某事 jǐnggào mǒurén mǒushì
to warn sb against sth
告诫(誡)某人提防某事 gàojiè mǒurén dīfang mǒushì
to warn against doing sth
告诫(誡)不准做某事 gàojiè bùzhǔn zuò mǒushì
to warn sb not to do sth
告诫(誡)某人不要做某事 gàojiè mǒurén bùyào zuò mǒushì
1 (verb)
Definition
to inform (someone) in advance
They warned him of the dangers of sailing alone.
Synonyms
notify
The skipper notified the coastguard of the tragedy.
tell
I called her to tell her how spectacular it looked.
remind
inform
They would inform him of any progress they had made.
alert
I was hoping he'd alert the police.
tip off
He tipped police off on his carphone.
give notice
make someone aware
forewarn
The book had forewarned me of what to expect.
apprise
Have the customers been fully apprised of the advantages?
give fair warning
2 (verb)
My mother warned me not to interfere.
Synonyms
advise
I would strongly advise against it.
urge
He urged restraint on the security forces.
recommend
I recommend that you consult your doctor.
counsel
My advisors counselled me to do nothing.
caution
He cautioned against having unrealistic expectations.
commend
I can commend it to you as a sensible course of action.
exhort (formal)
Kennedy exhorted his listeners to turn away from violence.
admonish
Your doctor may one day admonish you to improve your posture.
put someone on their guard
Additional synonyms
in the sense of admonish
Your doctor may one day admonish you to improve your posture.
Synonyms
advise,
suggest,
warn,
urge,
recommend,
counsel,
caution,
prescribe,
exhort (formal),
enjoin,
forewarn
in the sense of alert
Definition
to warn of danger
I was hoping he'd alert the police.
Synonyms
warn,
signal,
inform,
alarm,
notify,
tip off,
forewarn
in the sense of apprise
Definition
to make aware
Have the customers been fully apprised of the advantages?
Synonyms
make aware,
tell,
warn,
advise,
inform,
communicate,
notify,
enlighten,
acquaint,
give notice,
make cognizant
Synonyms of 'warn'
warn
Explore 'warn' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of caution
Definition
to warn or advise
He cautioned against having unrealistic expectations.
Synonyms
warn,
urge,
advise,
alert,
tip off,
forewarn,
put you on your guard
in the sense of commend
Definition
to recommend
I can commend it to you as a sensible course of action.
Synonyms
recommend,
suggest,
approve,
advocate,
endorse,
vouch for,
put in a good word for
in the sense of counsel
Definition
to recommend or urge
My advisors counselled me to do nothing.
Synonyms
advise,
recommend,
advocate,
prescribe,
warn,
urge,
caution,
instruct,
exhort (formal),
admonish
in the sense of exhort
Definition
to urge (someone) earnestly
Kennedy exhorted his listeners to turn away from violence.
Synonyms
urge,
warn,
encourage,
advise,
bid,
persuade,
prompt,
spur,
press,
counsel,
caution,
call upon,
incite,
goad,
admonish,
enjoin,
beseech,
entreat
in the sense of forewarn
Definition
to warn beforehand
The book had forewarned me of what to expect.
Synonyms
alert,
advise,
caution,
tip off,
apprise,
give fair warning,
put on guard,
put on the qui vive
in the sense of inform
Definition
to make knowledgeable (about) or familiar (with)
They would inform him of any progress they had made.
Synonyms
tell,
advise,
let someone know,
notify,
brief,
instruct,
edify,
enlighten,
acquaint,
leak to,
communicate to,
fill someone in,
keep someone posted,
apprise,
clue someone in (informal),
put someone in the picture (informal),
tip someone off,
send word to,
give someone to understand,
make someone conversant (with)
in the sense of recommend
Definition
to advise as the best course or choice
I recommend that you consult your doctor.
Synonyms
advise,
suggest,
advance,
propose,
urge,
counsel,
advocate,
prescribe,
put forward,
exhort (formal),
enjoin
in the sense of tell
Definition
to make known in words
I called her to tell her how spectacular it looked.