alert
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1alert
adjective \ə-ˈlərt\Definition of ALERT
1
a : watchful and prompt to meet danger or emergency b : quick to perceive and act
See Examples of ALERT
- An alert guard stopped the robbers.
- He was tired and had trouble staying alert while he was driving.
- She wasn't mentally alert enough to answer the questions.
- An alert watchdog guarded the door.
Origin of ALERT
Italian all'erta, on the watch, literally, on the height
First Known Use: 1618
Related to ALERT
- Synonyms
- Argus-eyed, attentive, awake, observant, open-eyed, tenty (also tentie) [Scottish], vigilant, watchful, wide-awake, on guard, on one's toes, on the alert, on the ball, on the qui vive, on tiptoe
- Antonyms
- asleep
See Synonym Discussion at watchful, intelligent
Rhymes with ALERT
advert, assert, avert, bellwort, birthwort, Blackshirt, brownshirt, bush shirt, camp shirt, colewort, concert, convert, covert, desert, dessert, dissert, divert, dress shirt, evert, exert, expert, exsert, figwort, fleawort, glasswort, hair shirt, Hastert, hornwort, inert, insert, invert, lousewort, lungwort, madwort, milkwort, mugwort, nightshirt, outskirt, overt, pay dirt, pervert, pilewort, ragwort, redshirt, revert, ribwort, saltwort, sandwort, Schubert, seagirt, sea squirt, soapwort, spearwort, spleenwort, stitchwort, stonewort, stuffed shirt, subvert, sweatshirt, toothwort, T-shirt, ungirt
2alert
nounDefinition of ALERT
1
: a state of careful watching and readiness especially for danger or opportunity <on 24-hour alert>
2
a : an alarm or other signal of danger b : an urgent notice <an alert to parents … about new immunization requirements — Ann Schrader>
3
: the period during which an alert is in effect
Examples of ALERT
- They sounded an alert when enemy planes were approaching the city.
- Medical officials have put out an alert to hospitals to look out for the virus.
- The government has issued a terrorism alert.
First Known Use of ALERT
1803
Related to ALERT
- Synonyms
- admonishment, admonition, alarm (also alarum), warning, caution, forewarning, heads-up, notice
3alert
transitive verbDefinition of ALERT
1
: to call to a state of readiness : warn
2
: to make aware of <alerted the public to the dangers of pesticides>
Examples of ALERT
- Several neighbors alerted the authorities when they noticed strangers acting suspiciously.
- The governor alerted island residents that a hurricane was coming.
- The teacher alerted the students that tests would be given the next day.
First Known Use of ALERT
circa 1868
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