warn

[ wawrn ]
/ wɔrn /

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

to give a warning; caution: to warn of further disasters.

Origin of warn

before 1000; Middle English warnen, Old English warnian; cognate with German warnen. Cf. ware2

synonym study for warn

Warn, caution, admonish imply attempting to prevent another from running into danger or getting into unpleasant or undesirable circumstances. To warn is to speak plainly and usually in strong terms: to warn him about danger and possible penalties. To caution is to advise about necessary precautions, to put one on one's guard about possibly harmful circumstances or conditions, thus emphasizing avoidance of undesirable consequences: to caution him against driving in such weather. Admonish suggests giving earnest, authoritative advice with only tacit references to danger or penalty: to admonish a person for neglecting his duties.

OTHER WORDS FROM warn

Example sentences from the Web for warn

British Dictionary definitions for warn

warn
/ (wɔːn) /

verb

to notify or make (someone) aware of danger, harm, etc
(tr; often takes a negative and an infinitive) to advise or admonish (someone) as to action, conduct, etc I warn you not to do that again
(takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to inform (someone) in advance he warned them that he would arrive late
(tr; usually foll by away, off, etc) to give notice to go away, be off, etc he warned the trespassers off his ground

Derived forms of warn

warner, noun

Word Origin for warn

Old English wearnian; related to Old High German warnēn, Old Norse varna to refuse