warn

CEFRB1

/ˈwɔːn/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To tell someone about possible danger or trouble.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To make (someone) aware of (something impending); especially:

Examples

  • I tried to warn her, but she wouldn't listen.

  • Doctors warn us of possible danger.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To make (someone) aware of impending danger, evil, etc.

  2. To notify or inform (someone, about something).

  3. To summon (someone) to or inform of a formal meeting or duty.

More examples

In context

  • I'll run ahead and warn them.

  • I phoned to warn him of the road closure.

  • I warned him he'd be getting a huge box of birthday presents from me.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The lifeguard will blank swimmers about the dangerous strong currents.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English warnen, warnien (“to warn; admonish”), from Old English warnian (“to take heed; warn”), from Proto-Germanic *warnōną (“to warn; take heed”), from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to be aware; give heed”). Cognate with Dutch waarnen (obsolete), German Low German warnen, German warnen, Swedish varna, Icelandic varna.