warn

warn
verb (I, T)
1 to tell someone that something bad or dangerous may happen, so that they can avoid it or prevent it: “Be careful, the rocks are slippery,” Alex warned. | warn sb about: I warned him about those stairs. | warn (sb) of: You were warned of the risks involved. | warn sb not to do sth: I warned you not to walk home alone. | warn sb (that): We warned them that there was a bull in the field.
2 to tell someone about something before it happens so that they are not worried or surprised by it: Can you warn your mother you're going to be back late?
warn sb against sth phrasal verb (T) to advise someone not to do something because it may have dangerous or unpleasant results: Her financial adviser warned her against such a risky investment. | warn sb against doing sth: The police have warned tourists against going to remoter regions. warn sb off phrasal verb (T)
1 to tell someone to go away or not come near something, using threats: The farmer waved his stick in the air to warn us off his land.
2 to advise someone to go away or to avoid something: warn sb off doing sth: I tried to warn her off going out with him.

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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  • warn — W2S3 [wo:n US wo:rn] v [I and T] [: Old English; Origin: warnian] 1.) to tell someone that something bad or dangerous may happen, so that they can avoid it or prevent it ▪ Be careful, the rocks are slippery, Alex warned. warn sb about sth ▪… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • warn — [ wɔrn ] verb intransitive or transitive *** 1. ) to make someone conscious of a possible problem or danger so they will not be hurt: Police are warning all women in the area to be on their guard. warn against: Recent studies warn against… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • warn — warn, forewarn, caution can mean to let one know of ap proaching or possible danger or risk. Warn is the most comprehensive of these terms; in most of its senses it stresses a timely notification that makes possible the avoidance of a dangerous… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • warn´er — warn «wrn», transitive verb. 1. to give notice to in advance; put on guard (against danger, evil, or harm). 2. to give notice to; inform: »The whistle warned visitors that the ship was ready to sail. SYNONYM(S): appraise, notify. 3. to give… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Warn — Warn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Warned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Warning}.] [OE. warnen, warnien, AS. warnian, wearnian, to take heed, to warn; akin to AS. wearn denial, refusal, OS. warning, wernian, to refuse, OHG. warnen, G. warnen to warn, OFries. warna …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • WARN — I verb admonish, advise, alert, apprise, caution, caution against danger, communicate to, counsel, deter, discourage, dissuade, exhort, expostulate, forebode, forewarn, give warning, herald, inform, make aware, notice, notify, portend, predict,… …   Law dictionary

  • Warn — (w[add]rn), v. t. [OE. wernen, AS. weornan, wyrnan. Cf. {Warn} to admonish.] To refuse. [Written also {wern}, {worn}.] [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • warn — (v.) O.E. warnian to give notice of impending danger, also intransitive, to take heed, from W.Gmc. *warnojanan (Cf. O.N. varna to admonish, O.H.G. warnon to take heed, Ger. warnen to warn ); related to O.E. wær aware, cautious (see WARY (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • warn — ► VERB 1) inform of a possible danger, problem, etc. 2) give (someone) cautionary advice about actions or conduct. 3) (warn off) order (someone) to keep away or to refrain from doing something. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • warn — verb is traditionally a transitive verb with a grammatical object corresponding to the person or people receiving the warning: She warned them of the danger / She warned them that it was unsafe. In the 20c an intransitive use with a following… …   Modern English usage

  • warn — [v] give notice of possible occurrence acquaint, address, admonish, advise, advocate, alert, apprise, caution, clue, clue in*, counsel, cry wolf*, deprecate, direct, dissuade, enjoin, exhort, fill in, forbid, forearm, forewarn, give fair warning …   New thesaurus

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