forewarnfore‧warn /fɔːˈwɔːn $ fɔːrˈwɔːrn/ verb [transitive] 
Verb Table Examples
We’d been forewarned of the dangers of travelling at night.GRAMMAR Forewarn is often used in the passive.► see thesaurus at warn2forewarned is forearmed used to say that it is better to know about something before it happens, so that you can be prepared for it—forewarning noun [countable, uncountable]
Verb TableVERB TABLE
forewarn
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | forewarn |
| he, she, it | forewarns | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | forewarned |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have forewarned |
| he, she, it | has forewarned | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had forewarned |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will forewarn |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have forewarned |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am forewarning |
| he, she, it | is forewarning | |
| you, we, they | are forewarning | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was forewarning |
| you, we, they | were forewarning | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been forewarning |
| he, she, it | has been forewarning | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been forewarning |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be forewarning |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been forewarning |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- A police team, forewarned of the raid, had taken up positions inside the bank.
- Barry Hearn forewarned me that the meeting was going to be tough.
- She wanted him but couldn't have him and she must deal with that because he had forewarned her.
- The closure order came on a Sunday night, with no forewarning.
- There was no-one to explain that leprosy was a disease that gave no forewarning.
- Through astrology one could be forewarned of the exact time of his coming.
- Yet she had timed her appearance so exactly that it seemed as if she had been forewarned of the train's arrival.
THESAURUS► warn
Phrases 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.
► give somebody a warning 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.
► alert 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.
► tip somebody 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.
► caution 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.
► forewarn [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► warn 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.
► give somebody a warning 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.
► warn off 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.
► caution 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.
► tip off 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.
► alert 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.
► sound/raise the alarm 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.
► forewarn 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.
► I told you!/I told you so! 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.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► forewarned is forearmed
1to warn someone about something dangerous, unpleasant, or unexpected before it happensbe forewarned of/about something- You know, forewarned is forearmed.
We’d been forewarned of the dangers of travelling at night.GRAMMAR Forewarn is often used in the passive.► see thesaurus at warn2forewarned is forearmed used to say that it is better to know about something before it happens, so that you can be prepared for it—forewarning noun [countable, uncountable]