warning

/'wɔ:niɳ/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
warning

A warning sign is posted near the steep cliff.

Definition
  1. Noun:

    • A statement or event that indicates a possible or impending danger, problem, or other unpleasant situation: A "warning" is information given in advance to allow someone to prepare for or avoid something undesirable.
    • Cautionary advice or admonition: A "warning" can be a piece of advice intended to deter someone from a particular action or behavior.
    • Advance notification, especially of the termination of employment or tenancy: In formal contexts, a "warning" is a notice given before ending a job or agreement.
  2. Adjective:

    • Serving to warn: Used to describe something that functions as a caution or alert.
Examples of Usage
  • Noun:

    • The weather service issued a storm warning. (The weather service gave advance notice of a coming storm.)
    • He ignored all the warnings about the thin ice. (He did not pay attention to the cautions about the dangerous ice.)
    • She gave her landlord a month's warning before moving out. (She notified her landlord one month in advance of her departure.)
  • Adjective:

    • She gave him a warning look. (She looked at him in a way that was meant to caution him.)
    • The sign had a clear warning message. (The sign displayed a message intended to alert people.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to take warning": To heed a caution and learn from it, often from another's example.

    • You should take warning from his mistakes. (You should learn caution from the errors he made.)
  • "without (a) warning": Suddenly and unexpectedly, with no prior indication.

    • The system crashed without warning. (The system failed suddenly, with no advance sign.)
  • "a word of warning": A piece of cautionary advice.

    • A word of warning: the path gets very slippery. (A caution: the path becomes very slippery.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Warn (verb): To inform someone in advance of a danger or problem.

    • I tried to warn him about the traffic. (I attempted to alert him about the traffic situation.)
  • Warningly (adverb): In a manner that serves as a warning.

    • He shook his head warningly. (He shook his head in a cautioning way.)
Synonyms
  • Caution: Care taken to avoid danger or mistakes; a warning.
  • Admonition: Authoritative advice or warning.
  • Alert: A state of vigilance or a warning signal.
  • Notice: Advance notification or warning.
Related Phrases
  • Final warning: The last caution before serious consequences occur.

    • This is your final warning; next time you will be suspended. (This is the last caution; the next incident will result in suspension.)
  • Warning shot: A shot fired as a signal or threat, not intended to hit.

    • The police fired a warning shot into the air. (The police fired a shot into the air as a deterrent signal.)
Related Idioms
  • A warning bell: Something that causes sudden concern or suggests danger.

    • His strange behavior set off warning bells in my mind. (His odd behavior made me suddenly concerned.)
  • Let that be a warning to you: Used to tell someone they should learn a lesson from a negative example.

    • He was fined for speeding, so let that be a warning to you. (He received a fine for speeding, so you should learn from his example.)
warning

A warning sign is posted near the steep cliff.

Adjective
  1. serving to warn
    • shook a monitory finger at him
    • an exemplary jail sentence
Noun
  1. notification of something, usually in advance
    • they gave little warning of their arrival
    • she had only had four days' warning before leaving Berlin
  2. cautionary advice about something imminent (especially imminent danger or other unpleasantness)
    • a letter of admonition about the dangers of immorality
    • the warning was to beware of surprises
    • his final word of advice was not to play with matches
  3. a message informing of danger
    • a warning that still more bombs could explode