warn

verb

ˈwȯrn 

warned; warning; warns

transitive verb

1

a

: to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or evil

b

: to give admonishing advice to : counsel

c

: to call to one's attention : inform

2

: to order to go or stay away

—often used with off

intransitive verb

: to give a warning

warner noun

Synonyms

• advise
• alert
• caution
• forewarn
• wake

Examples of warn in a Sentence

I had been warned about the difficulties of the job.

She warned me that the stove was still hot.

“This won't be easy,” he warned.

Nobody warned me about the dangers.

I warned him to be careful, but he didn't listen to me.

She warned us not to go too close to the fire.

Recent Examples on the Web

This was what she was being warned against by the invocation of Anne’s and Nicole’s names. —Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 4 May 2025

A day prior to the attack, the embassies of Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK, and the US, alongside the EU, warned of South Sudan’s rapidly deteriorating security situation and demanded President Kiir release Vice President Machar from house arrest. —Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN Money, 3 May 2025

Researchers had warned that dissolving the research unit would undermine scientific independence. —Valerie Volcovici, USA Today, 3 May 2025

Be warned: This page contains spoilers for today’s puzzle. —New York Times Games, New York Times, 3 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English warnen, going back to Old English wearnian, warnian "to be on one's guard, make aware, put on one's guard," going back to West Germanic *warnōjan- (whence Middle Dutch waernen "to provide with, give notice of a danger," Old High German warnōn), probably causative derivative of Germanic *wara- "cognizant, watchful" — more at ware entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing warn

• I have to warn you
• pre-warn
• warn off

Rhymes for warn

• borne
• bourn
• bourne
• corn
• morn
• mourn
• porn
• scorn
• shorn
• sworn
• thorn
• torn

Kids Definition

warn

verb

ˈwȯ(ə)rn 

1

a

: to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or evil

b

: to give advice to : counsel

2

: to order to go or stay away

warned us off their land

warner noun