to warn

Examples

• All

• Speaking at the workshop, Geoffrey Rose warned of two things that could go wrong.

  Academic text (2013)

• She was right to warn you.

  Emmanuelle (2024)

• No, I tried to warn her.

  Hell of a Summer (2023)

• - Can you warn me?

  Fall (2022)

• But you must warn your passengers that they travel at their own risk.

  Stagecoach (1939)

• I beg you all to be warned by my example.

  Hitler's Children (1943)

• "U.S. President Barack Obama has warned the Palestinians that efforts to delegitimize Israel will end in failure."

  Academic text (2011)

• One toxicologist, Dr. Michael Policastro, warned against reading too much into the THC levels.

  Academic text (2017)

• But some diets cast carbs as villains, and we're warned to stay away from them.

  Academic text (2015)

• The teacher decided to warn the students about the consequences of cheating on the exam.

Synonyms

A

to alert

vsto warn

255 2.3

To warn someone about a possible danger or problem

focuses on advising about risks so people take care

C

to caution

vsto warn

92 3.0

To warn someone about danger or problems

focuses more generally on risks so people act carefully

A

to admonish

vsto warn

31 6.8

To tell someone firmly to change or improve their behavior

is more about pointing out risks so people act carefully, not to scold

F

to forewarn

vsto warn

14 4.8

Tell someone about possible danger before it happens

does the same but does not require prior notice

P

to prewarn

vsto warn

1 4.2

To tell people about a possible danger before it happens

is the general act of telling and may not happen beforehand

P

to previse

vsto warn

• Archaic

9.9

To tell someone about something before it happens

focuses on telling about risks so people can be careful rather than giving notice

M

to monish

vsto warn

• Archaic

9.9

To warn or advise someone about their behaviour

focuses on telling about dangers or risks rather than advising on behaviour

S

to sound a warning bell

vsto warn

4.3

To warn people about a possible danger or serious problem

is usually a private or direct notice to help someone act carefully

R

to ring a warning bell

vsto warn

• Informal

5.4

Make someone think there may be a problem

is a direct notice to prompt careful action rather than just raising worry

Phrasal Verbs

C

to content warn

• Texting

7.3

Give a notice before sharing something that may upset people

How Urgent

to urge

591 3.2

to alert

255 2.3

to warn

∞ 1.0

to caution

92 3.0

to notify

• Formal

367 3.1

to inform

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology