as in to alert
to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or risk the lifeguard warned the boys that if they continued playing so rough, someone was sure to get hurt

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of warn When more than a month’s worth of rain fell in 90 minutes just west of the United Center late Tuesday night, federal weather forecasters warned of possible flash flooding, triggering a chain of events that alerted some Chicago residents about potential danger. William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025 The camp requested that FEMA, the agency responsible for creating maps that help warn Americans where water might rise, remove more than a dozen buildings from what FEMA designates a floodplain at least twice in 2013, 2019 and 2020, the documents show. Laura Sullivan, NPR, 13 July 2025 There’s a lot of drama implied in that sentence, so readers should be warned that this story picks up at what may seem—to them, but also (crucially) to Jesse—like the least dramatic part of the narrative. Willing Davidson, New Yorker, 13 July 2025 Forecasters are warning that due to torrential rainfall there may be some flooding, along with lightning strikes. Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 13 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for warn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warn
Verb
  • The border police unit immediately headed out to search for the settlers after being alerted by CNN.
    Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 14 July 2025
  • When more than a month’s worth of rain fell in 90 minutes just west of the United Center late Tuesday night, federal weather forecasters warned of possible flash flooding, triggering a chain of events that alerted some Chicago residents about potential danger.
    William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Redmond advises measuring the length, width, and height of your space, then determining where your sofa will be situated.
    Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2025
  • Millions of people across the United States have been advised to limit outdoors activity amid concerns over high air pollution levels.
    Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Warn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warn. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on warn

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!