WARN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does warn mean? 

• WARN (verb)
  The verb WARN has 4 senses:

1. notify of danger, potential harm, or risk

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

3. ask to go away

4. notify, usually in advance

  Familiarity information: WARN used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WARN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they warn    ... he / she / it warns   
Past simple: warned   
Past participle: warned   
-ing form: warning   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Notify of danger, potential harm, or risk

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

The doctor warned me about the dangers of smoking

Hypernyms (to "warn" is one way to...):

inform (impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to)

Verb group:

admonish; discourage; monish; warn (advise or counsel in terms of someone's behavior)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "warn"):

forewarn; previse (warn in advance or beforehand; give an early warning)

admonish; caution; monish (warn strongly; put on guard)

threaten (to utter intentions of injury or punishment against)

alarm; alert (warn or arouse to a sense of danger or call to a state of preparedness)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody of something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

warner (someone who gives a warning to others)

warning (a message informing of danger)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Advise or counsel in terms of someone's behavior

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

admonish; discourage; monish; warn

Context example:

She warned him to be quiet

Hypernyms (to "warn" is one way to...):

advise; counsel; rede (give advice to)

Verb group:

warn (notify of danger, potential harm, or risk)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

Sam cannot warn Sue

Derivation:

warning (cautionary advice about something imminent (especially imminent danger or other unpleasantness))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Ask to go away

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

The old man warned the children off his property

Hypernyms (to "warn" is one way to...):

enjoin; order; say; tell (give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody PP

Sense 4

Meaning:

Notify, usually in advance

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

I warned you that I would ask some difficult questions

Hypernyms (to "warn" is one way to...):

inform (impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

warner (someone who gives a warning to others)

 Context examples 

But sometimes headaches warn of a more serious disorder.

(Headache, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Mrs. March was the first to recover herself, and held up her hand with a warning, "Hush! Remember Beth." But it was too late.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

It is important to know the warning signs of a moderate or severe head injury.

(Head Injuries, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

It is important to know how to help your sick baby, and to know the warning signs for more serious problems.

(Common Infant and Newborn Problems, NIH)

"Be careful," her mother warned her once again.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

And, with a warning look and his finger on his lip, he went below.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

He warned you off, but if you WILL come, by the Lord you do it at your own risk.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Remember, we are bid to work while it is day—warned that 'the night cometh when no man shall work.'

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

You came back by an unexpected way, and so he had no warning until you were at the very door.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There was a new note in his mate's warning snarl.

(White Fang, by Jack London)