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warning
/ˈwɔːrnɪŋ/
an alert or notice of danger
The lifeguard gave a warning before the storm hit.
The lifeguard alerted people to the approaching danger.
general
an alert or notice of danger or potential harm
The weather app issued a warning about heavy rain.
The app notified users about the risk of heavy rain.
She ignored the warning signs of her car's engine trouble.
She disregarded the indicators that her car was malfunctioning.
Can be verbal, written, or visual.
Law
formal
a formal notice of a violation or impending legal action
The company received a warning from the labor board.
The company was formally notified of potential legal consequences.
Often issued by authorities or legal entities.
Collocations
warning signan indicator of danger or troublewarning labela label indicating potential hazardswarning shota shot fired to signal danger without causing harm
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
The meaning of 'warning' can vary based on context—legal, safety, or general advice.
Gold Rule
Formal vs. Informal
In legal contexts, 'warning' is formal; in everyday speech, it can be informal.
Word Origin
From Middle English *warnyng*, from Old French *warnir* (to warn), from Frankish *warnōn* (to caution).
Usage Notes
Can be used as a noun or verb (e.g., 'The system warned the user').
Word Breakdown
warn
to alert or notify
root-ing
ongoing action or state
suffixEnglish Dictionary