warn — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To make (someone) aware of (something impending); especially: To make (someone) aware of impending danger, evil, etc.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   We waved a flag to warn the oncoming traffic about the accident.

   I phoned to warn him of the road closure.

2. To make (someone) aware of (something impending); especially: To notify or inform (someone, about something).

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   I warned him he'd be getting a huge box of birthday presents from me.

3. To make (someone) aware of (something impending); especially: To summon (someone) to or inform of a formal meeting or duty.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   The sheriff warned her to appear in court.

   Committee being warned these following were absent or short …

   More examples (2)

   The people had been invited to the funeral, or warnt, by a special messenger a few days before the funeral took place.

   [...] the plaintiff fraudulently warned the meeting for November 15, giving only five days' notice [...]

4. To make (someone) aware of (something impending); especially: To make a sound (e.g. clicking or whirring) indicating that it is about to strike or chime (an hour).

   Usage

   • Transitive or intransitive
   • Obsolete
   • possibly
   • Transitive
   • of a clock

   Examples

   Hark! the clock is warning ten;

   No, not a word more, Andrew; the clock has warned for nine, and I am off.

   More examples (1)

   The clock warned, and the hands pointed to a few minutes before the hour. The preacher looked towards it. "And, as you sit here," he cried," the Old Year is dragging out its last moments and the New Year is coming up —"

5. To caution or admonish (someone) against unwise or unacceptable behaviour.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   He was warned against crossing the railway tracks at night.

   Don't let me catch you running in the corridor again, I warn you.

6. To advise or order to go or stay away.

   Usage

   • with "off"

   Examples

   A sign warns trespassers off/away from the site.

7. To give warning.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   then Iames Cephas and Iohn [...] agreed with vs that we shuld preache amonge the Hethen and they amonge the Iewes: warnynge only that we shulde remember the poore.

   She is his deepest innocence in spaces of bough and hay before wishes were given a different name to warn that they might not come true [...].

   She warned that he was seriously thinking of withdrawing his offer to part the waters, ‘so that all you'll get at the Arabian Sea is a saltwater bath [...]’.

   More examples (1)

   Every country has its resident experts who warn that imported television will destroy the national consciousness and replace it with Dallas, The Waltons, Star Trek and Twin Peaks.

Verb

1. notify of danger, potential harm, or risk

   Broader terms

   inform

   Examples

   The director warned him that he might be fired

   The doctor warned me about the dangers of smoking

2. advise or counsel in terms of someone's behavior

   Synonyms

   discourageadmonishmonish

   Broader terms

   redeadvisecounsel

   Examples

   I warned him not to go too far

   I warn you against false assumptions

   More examples (1)

   She warned him to be quiet

3. ask to go away

   Broader terms

   ordertellenjoinsay

   Examples

   The old man warned the children off his property

4. notify, usually in advance

   Broader terms

   inform

   Examples

   I warned you that I would ask some difficult questions