alerta‧lert1 /əˈlɜːt $ -ɜːrt/ ●●○ adjective 
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]
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]