warn (wɔːn
)
Definitions
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
Alternative Forms
ˈwarner nounWord Origin
Old English wearnian; related to Old High German warnēn, Old Norse varna to refuseTranslations
- British English:
warn
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.wɔːn VERB UN officials warn of disease and famine. Friends had warned me that children were expensive.
- Spanish:
advertir
v
- French:
prévenir
vt
- German:
warnen
v
- Chinese: 警告 v
- Arabic: يُحَذِّرُ v
- Portuguese: advertir v
- Russian: предупреждать v
- Croatian: upozoriti v
- Czech: varovat v
- Danish: advare v
- Dutch: waarschuwen v
- Finnish: varoittaa v
- Greek: προειδοποιώ v
- Italian: avvertire v
- Japanese: 警告する v
- Korean: 경고하다 v
- Norwegian: advare v
- Polish: ostrzec v ostrzegać
- Brazilian Portuguese: advertir v
- European Spanish:
advertir
v
- Swedish: varna v
- Thai: เตือน v
- Turkish: uyarmak v
- Vietnamese: cảnh báo v
Usage examples
He begged me with his dying breath to warn his sister that they'd been betrayed.
, TREASON KEEP (2001)Other experts warn that spammers have begun using even more devious means to continue pumping out messages.
New Scientist (2003)Some advise buying oil and gold, while others warn investors to stay well away.
Globe and Mail (2003)Critics warn it could put policing at the mercy of single issue campaigners.
Liverpool Daily Post and Echo (2005)So I take the gun to warn them off and keep the door locked.
, Polmena Cove (1994)