alert1 adjectivealert2 verbalert3 noun
alerta‧lert1 /əˈlɜːt $ -ɜːrt/ ●●○ adjective 
WORD ORIGINalert1
Origin:
1500-1600 French alerte, from Italian all' erta ‘on the watch’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- an alert driver
- Passengers should try to stay alert at all times, and report any suspicious packages to the police immediately.
- She owes her life to an alert farmer, who spotted her car in a ditch and called the emergency services.
- The medicine can make it difficult to remain alert.
- Being aware of this, you will be alert and attentive to meaning.
- But working in this sort of hospital you are always aware of the potential and you have to be alert.
- Even many of the civilians in Charleston, which lay three miles across the bay from Sumter, were alert and anxious.
- For a compulsively pensive person, to be fully alert but free of thought is a form of ecstasy...
- He listens with an alert, humorless expression.
- The men sit up, alert.
- The second effort was another wonderfully alert piece of rugby.
Longman Language Activatoralways watching to see what happens
someone who is alert is always watching, and notices if anything strange or unusual happens: · Passengers should try to stay alert at all times, and report any suspicious packages to the police immediately.· She owes her life to an alert farmer, who spotted her car in a ditch and called the emergency services.
to watch carefully because you think that something bad might happen: · We ask you all to be on the alert and to report anything suspicious immediately.be on the alert for: · Staff have been warned to be on the alert for bombs.
spoken say this to tell someone to keep watching carefully so that they will see something that they are hoping or expecting to see: · We might see a dolphin if we're lucky, so keep your eyes open.keep your eyes open/peeled for: · I always keep my eyes open for discounts and special offers.· Keep your eyes peeled for Robert - he should be here any minute.
to keep watching so that you will notice someone or something: · Look out for the old college buildings on your left.· We had to watch out for potholes in the road.
always watching to see what happens, either to make sure that nothing bad happens, or simply because you are interested: · The fans left the ground quietly, under the watchful gaze of security cameras.· Alan became more watchful and uneasy as the evening went on.keep a watchful eye on (=keep watching someone to make sure they do not get into trouble, hurt themselves etc): · Bill was in the kitchen, keeping a watchful eye on the children as he prepared lunch.
someone who is vigilant is always watching to see what happens, especially to see if anyone is doing anything wrong or illegal: · To combat thieves, it is important for staff to be vigilant at all times.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Taking notes is one of the best ways to stay alert in lectures. Jack was as mentally alert as a man half his age. The authorities should have been alert to the possibility of invasion.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Troops were put on high alert. All the hospitals are on red alert.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
Taking notes is one of the best ways to stay alert in lectures. Jack was as mentally alert as a man half his age. The authorities should have been alert to the possibility of invasion. Troops were put on high alert. All the hospitals are on red alert.· When I come away from working with Slatkin I always feel more mentally alert than when I started.· Bernhardt stated that she continued to sculpt into old age to remain mentally alert.· This applies both to the mentally alert and the mentally confused.· I felt stimulated - mentally alert, talkative and sociable.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1giving all your attention to what is happening, being said etc: - Be alert to the possibility of change to cross-talk between four people, which is much more difficult for the speechreader.
- Police, who were alerted to the photographs by Zona, deny that such a threat was made.
- Sometimes they can be alerted to their interests by aggressive voter education.
- The perceptive consultant should also be alert to the way power is distributed in the organization.
- The reader is asked to be alert to that important distinction as this narrative unfolds.
- The staff of the receiving primary school would be alerted to the child's particular needs.
- The therapist should be alert to the possibilities of a patient losing all hope.
- This way they would be alerted to Luke's infidelity, but it wouldn't be forced on them.
- Early in the war Soviet southern troops were put on high alert.
The animal raised its head, suddenly alert. Taking notes is one of the best ways to stay alert in lectures.2able to think quickly and clearly: Jack was as mentally alert as a man half his age.3be alert to something to know about or understand something, especially a possible danger or problem: The authorities should have been alert to the possibility of invasion.—alertness noun [uncountable]alert1 adjectivealert2 verbalert3 noun
alertalert2 ●●○ verb [transitive] VERB TABLE
alert
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | alert |
| he, she, it | alerts | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | alerted |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have alerted |
| he, she, it | has alerted | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had alerted |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will alert |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have alerted |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am alerting |
| he, she, it | is alerting | |
| you, we, they | are alerting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was alerting |
| you, we, they | were alerting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been alerting |
| he, she, it | has been alerting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been alerting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be alerting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been alerting |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a poster campaign to alert people to the disease
- Drivers are being alerted that an escaped prisoner has been seen hitch-hiking on the road to Frankfurt.
- One fireman alerted the residents and helped them to safety.
- When he realized that one engine was not working, the pilot alerted air traffic control.
- But it was really quite useful, since it alerted his audience to stand by for something unexpected.
- Echoes of the signal alert them to possible prey, at ranges up to 80-90 metres in shallow waters.
- Some authors have suggested that the clicks are made to alert other cats to the presence of the prey.
- The perimeter was alerted, and most were awake.
- The sensors alerted police within seconds and, in some instances, placed the gunshots within 20 feet of their origin.
- When we find kids circumventing them, we alert our members and try to get the information out as quickly as possible.
THESAURUS
to tell someone about something bad or dangerous that might happen, so that they can avoid it or prevent it: · I warned you about sitting out in the sun too long.· We were warned that there could be delays on the motorway, so we took another route.
to tell someone that if they continue to behave in an unsatisfactory way, they will be punished: · He’s already been given several warnings about handing in his essays late.· The US gave a warning that if the hostages were not released, it would be forced to take military action.
to officially or publicly warn people of possible danger so that they can prevent it or be ready to deal with it: · a campaign to alert people to the dangers of smoking· An anonymous caller alerted the police that a bomb was due to go off.
informal to secretly warn someone about something that is going to happen – used especially about warning the police about a crime: · The police found the drugs after being tipped off by local residents.· Informants tipped the FBI off.
formal to warn someone to do or not to do something in order to avoid a dangerous or bad result: · People are being cautioned against using credit cards abroad, in case of fraud.· Health officials have cautioned the public to wash fruit thoroughly before eating it.
[usually passive] formal to warn someone about something that is going to happen, so that they are expecting it or ready for it: · We had been forewarned that the roads weren’t very good.
Longman Language Activatorto warn someone about something to tell someone about something unpleasant or dangerous that might happen, so that they can avoid it or prevent it: · We tried to warn her, but she refused to listen.· The consequences could be serious - I just wanted to warn you.warn (that): · The local people were warned that the volcano might erupt at any time.· We were warned there were going to be delays on the motorway, so we came back by a different route.warn somebody about something especially spoken: · I was going for a swim, until the people in the hotel warned me about the jellyfish.warn (somebody) of something especially written: · Weather forecasters warned of possible flooding in coastal regions.warn somebody (not) to do something: · Police are warning drivers not to go out on the roads unless their journey is really necessary.warn somebody against doing something: · Tourists are warned against going to remoter regions.
to tell someone that if they continue to behave in an unsatisfactory way, they will be punished: · So you've given her a warning about her conduct in future?give sb a warning that: · The US gave a warning that, if the hostages were not released, they would be forced to take military action.give somebody a final warning: · One day Monica's boss gave her a final warning. If she messed up again, she was fired.
to try to prevent someone from doing something by warning them about the trouble or problems it could cause for them: warn somebody off: · The army had put signs up around the area where the mines were, to warn people off.warn somebody off doing something: · Even though we'd been warned off going into the mountains, we couldn't resist it.warn off somebody: · The female rattlesnake warns off intruders by making a loud noise.
formal to warn someone not to do something because it is likely to be dangerous or have a bad result: · "Be careful now," Sarah cautioned. "Don't do anything stupid."caution somebody against doing something: · The policeman cautioned the children against talking to strangers.caution against (doing) something: · Marshall cautioned against pouring millions of pounds into taking legal action when there was no guarantee of victory.
to warn someone about something that is going to happen, especially to warn the police about a crime, so that they can try to prevent it: be tipped off about: · The police had been tipped off about the gang's arrival.be tipped off that: · Customs officers had been tipped off that the drugs were hidden in a child's rucksack.tip somebody off: · Someone must have tipped the press off about the princess's visit. tip off somebody: · A farmer noticed our foreign accents and tipped off the Security Police.
to officially or publicly warn people of possible danger so that they can be ready to deal with it: · When he realized that one engine was not working, the pilot alerted air traffic control.alert somebody to something: · a poster campaign to alert people to the diseasealert somebody that: · Drivers are being alerted that an escaped prisoner has been seen hitch-hiking on the road to Frankfurt.
to warn everyone about something bad or dangerous that is already happening so that they can take action to stop it or avoid it: · Leighton was told to stand at the door, and to raise the alarm if a guard came.sound/raise the alarm about: · The Red Cross has sounded the alarm about the danger of further famine in the region.· The problem is that if you sound the alarm about fraud in your company, you might end up out of a job.
formal to warn someone about something bad that is going to happen soon, so that they have enough time to prepare for it: · Barry Hearn forewarned me that the meeting was going to be tough.be forewarned of something: · A police team, forewarned of the raid, had taken up positions inside the bank.
spoken say this when you had warned someone about a possible danger that has now happened, especially if they ignored your warning: · I told you he had a violent temper! Why did you argue with him?· I told you so! It was obvious she was going to disappear as soon as she got the money.· I hate to say "I told you so", but maybe you should listen to me next time.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The school immediately alerted the police.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Troops were put on high alert. All the hospitals are on red alert.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
The school immediately alerted the police. Troops were put on high alert. All the hospitals are on red alert.· Such arguments naturally alerted the authorities to the possible threat posed by such an organization.· If nothing was heard from us, then the shore station would alert the rescue authorities.· Be sure to alert the local planning authority, which may not be aware of the subtleties of the legislation.· Vesey hoped to seize Charleston in 1822, but a conspirator alerted the authorities, who disrupted the plot.
· Could she alert him to her danger?· Chital are extremely wary animals that alert each other to danger with a whistling call.· It has a range of sounds and frequencies to alert other monkeys to danger.· So my conclusion is that we blanked due to a combination of the bream being well fed and very alert to danger.
· Continual clashes of this type should alert parents to the fact that this approach is not useful with their child.· This unusual property is what first alerted researchers to the fact that a core exists at the center of our earth.· Moreover, it alerts us to the fact that short-sighted tactics may thwart the overall strategy.· Worse, nothing in the data itself would alert us to this fact.
· Simmons has so many irons in the fire some one should alert 911.
· Then he ran to his car and drove five miles to alert police and park rangers.· The sensors alerted police within seconds and, in some instances, placed the gunshots within 20 feet of their origin.· Last summer she alerted police after Stephen Davison went missing.· The wireless remote receiver also can be connected to your home security system to alert the police.· Police and airport alerted. 18.45 First police and firemen arrive.· A passer-by spotted an abandoned plastic bag and alerted police.· Workmen alerted police after noticing a red car apparently abandoned in the quarry on the Horseshoe Pass between Llangollen and Ruthin.· One or two commuters alerted police on their cellular phones.
· Music publishing companies are always alert to the possibility of signing new songwriting talent.· Children who are very passive and uncommunicative should alert us to the possibility that problems exist in the life of the family.· However, the teacher was still alert to the possibility that some children might use collaboration as a cover.
· The jury's note should have alerted the judge to problems that might occur.· Again, the viewfinder image will alert you to the problem by showing you how the camcorder is seeing the scene.· Schools need to be constantly alert to this problem.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1to officially warn someone about a problem or danger so that they are ready to deal with it: - Early in the war Soviet southern troops were put on high alert.
The school immediately alerted the police.► see thesaurus at warn2to make someone realize something important or dangerousalert somebody to something campaigns to alert the public to the dangers of HIValert1 adjectivealert2 verbalert3 noun
alertalert3 noun EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a smog alert
- Because of the potential seriousness of the incident, a site alert was announced.
- But there is manipulation in these alerts.
- He lists a handful of false virus alerts and urban myths.
- If we bypass the decision we simply move into autopilot and the red alert comes into play.
- Read in studio A city centre is still sealed off following a security alert earlier this afternoon.
THESAURUS
something that you say or do to tell people about danger, or to tell them not to do something: · All cigarette packets carry a government health warning.· She ignored her parents' warnings.· The army issued a warning that anyone who was out on the streets after dark was likely to be shot.
formal an official warning or a piece of advice telling you to be careful: · Caution: do not install electrical equipment near or around water sources.· The video begins with a caution that you must do some warm-up exercises first.
informal a warning that someone is about to do something, especially one given to the police about a crime: · Police were called to the hotel after a tip-off.
a warning to be ready for possible danger that may happen soon: · Twelve flood alerts have been issued to areas along the River Severn.· a fire alert· The ambulance services were on red alert (=they were ready to take action immediately).
formal an official warning or notice that gives information about a dangerous situation: · The air pollution gets so bad on some days that health advisories are posted at park entrances.
formal a warning that something may not be completely true, effective etc. Also used when pointing out that it is important to remember something: · The woman was offered treatment, but with the caveat that it had only a 30% chance of success.· One caveat is that you must take the goods back to the shop within 14 days.· There is one important caveat to this argument.
Longman Language Activatorready to take action if it is needed to be ready to take action or provide something when it is needed: · Officers in full riot gear were standing by outside the police station.· A plane was standing by to take the hostages from the airport.
if a group of people, especially soldiers or police are on standby , they are waiting, ready to go somewhere if they are needed when something happens that is expected to happen soon: · Extra troops have been brought in, and riot police are on standby.· Bomb squads are on 24-hour standby because of the threats.be on standby to do something: · RAF medical crews are on standby to fly out to the war zone.
if someone such as a doctor or engineer is on call , they are ready to give advice on the phone or go and help where they are needed, as part of their job: · As a doctor, you will be on call regularly at weekends.· There are four physiotherapists on call at the sports injury clinic.
if soldiers, police officers etc are on full alert , they are completely ready to deal with a dangerous situation: · All ships were on full alert.put/place something on full alert: · By 7 pm the President had placed American military forces on full alert.be on full alert for: · The police were on full alert for further riots.
always watching to see what happens someone who is alert is always watching, and notices if anything strange or unusual happens: · Passengers should try to stay alert at all times, and report any suspicious packages to the police immediately.· She owes her life to an alert farmer, who spotted her car in a ditch and called the emergency services.
to watch carefully because you think that something bad might happen: · We ask you all to be on the alert and to report anything suspicious immediately.be on the alert for: · Staff have been warned to be on the alert for bombs.
spoken say this to tell someone to keep watching carefully so that they will see something that they are hoping or expecting to see: · We might see a dolphin if we're lucky, so keep your eyes open.keep your eyes open/peeled for: · I always keep my eyes open for discounts and special offers.· Keep your eyes peeled for Robert - he should be here any minute.
to keep watching so that you will notice someone or something: · Look out for the old college buildings on your left.· We had to watch out for potholes in the road.
always watching to see what happens, either to make sure that nothing bad happens, or simply because you are interested: · The fans left the ground quietly, under the watchful gaze of security cameras.· Alan became more watchful and uneasy as the evening went on.keep a watchful eye on (=keep watching someone to make sure they do not get into trouble, hurt themselves etc): · Bill was in the kitchen, keeping a watchful eye on the children as he prepared lunch.
someone who is vigilant is always watching to see what happens, especially to see if anyone is doing anything wrong or illegal: · To combat thieves, it is important for staff to be vigilant at all times.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a full-scale flood alert Be on the alert for anyone acting suspiciously. Troops in the vicinity were put on alert. Troops were put on high alert. All the hospitals are on red alert.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
a full-scale flood alert Be on the alert for anyone acting suspiciously. Troops in the vicinity were put on alert. also on high alert (=completely ready to deal with a dangerous situation) All our border points are on full alert.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES All our border points are on full alert. Troops were put on high alert. All the hospitals are on red alert.· Coastguards ordered a full emergency alert as the vessel drifted away from the Amoco rig 120 miles east of Aberdeen.· I remember it was a night drive, and everybody was on full alert.· Does it need 7,000 nuclear weapons on full alert, and three weapons laboratories?· Not all defences need be kept at full alert at every moment.
· Time allowed 04:56 Read in studio A red flood alert has been issued tonight for one of the region's rivers.· It was the normal state of red alert, panic, and disarray in the Bronx County Building.· Frank had to leave-he'd burnt so many bridges Blue Watch were on red alert.· If we bypass the decision we simply move into autopilot and the red alert comes into play.· Several Devon roads were closed with the Otter and Dart rivers on red flood alert.· The National Health Service was put on red alert.
NOUN· Several families were evacuated from their homes in Ulster last night after a bomb alert.
· The overnight explosion not only destroyed the chapel but also sparked a security alert in Dartmouth, Devon.· Postal facilities and other government offices around the country were warned of the attempted bombings, and were put on security alert.· Voice over Elsewhere investigations are continuing into a separate security alert in Gloucester City Centre yesterday.· His arrest followed a major security alert before a visit by the Prime Minister.· His appearance follows a security alert in Oxford last night.· Read in studio A city centre is still sealed off following a security alert earlier this afternoon.· The security alert, involving five hundred people, cost ten thousand pounds.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[countable] a warning to be ready for possible dangera bomb/fire/terrorist etc alert- Above, our full combat air patrol was on the alert.
- Bailey said that if even one of the fuel rods leaks, Palo Verde officials would put the plant on alert.
- Emergency services were put on alert.
- Only once was the congressional retreat beneath the Greenbrier Hotel put on alert and readied for possible occupancy.
- Report, page 11 Flu outbreak puts hospitals on alert.
- They were to stay on the alert for any soldier unlucky enough to go overboard.
- Early in the war Soviet southern troops were put on high alert.
a full-scale flood alert The bomb alert was raised soon after midnight. → red alert2on (the) alert (for something/somebody) ready to notice and deal with a situation or problem: Be on the alert for anyone acting suspiciously. Troops in the vicinity were put on alert.on full alert (also on high alert) (=completely ready to deal with a dangerous situation) All our border points are on full alert.