red alert

noun

: the final stage of alert in which enemy attack appears imminent
broadly : a state of alert brought on by impending danger

Examples of red alert in a Sentence

The troops have been put on red alert. the paparazzi were on red alert for sightings of the hot new Hollywood couple
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Mozambique has also issued a red alert for its northern provinces, Cabo Delgado and Nampula, which could be severely impacted when Chido makes landfall on Sunday. Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024 In November, the World Meteorological Organization issued a red alert about the rate of climate change over such a relatively short period of time. Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024 Ten minutes later, the national weather agency issued a red alert, the highest warning, to the regional authorities about heavy rains in the Valencia area. Emma Bubola, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024 In Tarragona, a city in southern Catalonia roughly midway between Barcelona and Valencia, school classes were canceled after a red alert for intense rainfall was issued. David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for red alert 

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of red alert was in 1941

Dictionary Entries Near red alert

Cite this Entry

“Red alert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20alert. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

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!