Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense alerts, present participle alerting, past tense, past participle alerted
1. adjective
If you are alert, you are paying full attention to things around you and are able to deal with anything that might happen.
We all have to stay alert.
He had been spotted by an alert neighbour.
Synonyms: attentive, careful, awake, wary More Synonyms of alert
alertnessuncountable noun
The drug improved mental alertness.
Synonyms: watchfulness, vigilance, agility, wariness More Synonyms of alert
2. adjective
If you are alertto something, you are fully aware of it.
The bank is alert to the danger. [+ to]
3. countable noun
An alert is a situation in which people prepare themselves for something dangerous that might happen soon.
Due to a security alert, this train will not be stopping at Oxford Circus.
Synonyms: warning, signal, alarm, siren More Synonyms of alert
4. verb
If you alert someone to a situation, especially a dangerous or unpleasant situation, you tell them about it.
He wanted to alert people to the activities of the group. [VERB noun + to]
I was hoping he'd alert the police. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: warn, signal, inform, alarm More Synonyms of alert
5. See also red alert
6.
See on alert
7.
See on the alert
More Synonyms of alert
alert in British English
(əˈlɜːt)
adjective(usually postpositive)
1.
vigilantly attentive
alert to the problems
2.
brisk, nimble, or lively
noun
3.
an alarm or warning, esp a siren warning of an air raid
4.
the period during which such a warning remains in effect
5. on the alert
verb(transitive)
6.
to warn or signal (troops, police, etc) to prepare for action
7.
to warn of danger, an attack, etc
Derived forms
alertly (aˈlertly)
adverb
alertness (aˈlertness)
noun
Word origin
C17: from Italian all'erta on the watch, from erta lookout post, from ergere to build up, from Latin ērigere; see erect
alert in American English
(əˈlɜrt)
adjective
1.
watchful and ready, as in facing danger
2.
quick in thought or action; active; nimble
noun
3.
a warning signal as of an expected air raid; alarm
4.
the period during which such a warning is in effect
verb transitive
5.
to warn to be ready or watchful
the troops were alerted
6.
to inform or make aware of
we alerted them to their duties
SIMILAR WORDS: inˈtelligent, ˈwatchful
Idioms:
on the alert
Derived forms
alertly (aˈlertly)
adverb
alertness (aˈlertness)
noun
Word origin
Fr alerte, earlier à l'erte < It all' erta, on the watch < alla, at the + erta, a lookout, high (point) < VL *ergere, for L erigere, to erect
Examples of 'alert' in a sentence
alert
She said that she alerted the police as soon as she realised what was happening.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Wycombe had been bold in attack and alert at the back.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The alert sparked a major manhunt across the capital.
The Sun (2016)
Airport police were initially alerted after a man who claimed the bag belonged to him was detained by security.
The Sun (2016)
So do stay alert to other people 's feelings and work with them.
The Sun (2016)
Always lively and alert, knitting play and linking with his forwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Many AI researchers are alert to these dangers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When a winger turns 30, the warning signs alert these flyers to sporting mortality.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You can alert people to the dangers.
Christianity Today (2000)
There is a website that alerts you as soon as bargain advance train tickets become available?
The Sun (2011)
They also issued a red alert warning of potential ash clouds.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
One of the women drivers alerted police chiefs.
The Sun (2010)
They help keep me alert and give me a zest for life.
The Sun (2014)
You just have to be able to stay alert and aboard.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Intensive care must have been on red alert waiting for face reconstruction.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We are on full alert as soon as they walk into the room.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Your mind is alert and ideas you have over the weekend have a touch of brilliance.
The Sun (2011)
He read the game superbly and was always alert and aware.
The Sun (2009)
We have to be alert to the warning signs that our egos are running rampant.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The world had been put on alert and the world watched with the keenest of eyes.
The Sun (2012)
Police were alerted by a man who she nearly ran over before crashing into an embankment.
The Sun (2015)
She ran to alert neighbours who battled in vain to douse the blaze until firefighters arrived.
The Sun (2011)
Becoming fully alert is a gradual process.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You can avoid temptation by turning off alert signals for texts or emails.
The Sun (2013)
It also alerts you to deals.
The Sun (2015)
In other languages
alert
British English: alert /əˈlɜːt/ ADJECTIVE
If you are alert, you are paying full attention to things around you and are ready to deal with anything that might happen.
We all have to stay alert.
American English: alert
Arabic: مُتَيَقِّظ
Brazilian Portuguese: atento
Chinese: 警惕的
Croatian: pripravan
Czech: ostražitý
Danish: opmærksom
Dutch: alert
European Spanish: alerta
Finnish: valpas
French: alerte
German: wachsam
Greek: άγρυπνος
Italian: vigile
Japanese: 油断なく警戒して
Korean: 방심하지 않는
Norwegian: årvåken
Polish: czujny
European Portuguese: atento
Romanian: vigilent
Russian: бдительный
Latin American Spanish: alerta
Swedish: vaken
Thai: ตื่นตัว
Turkish: uyanık
Ukrainian: пильний
Vietnamese: cảnh giác
British English: alert /əˈlɜːt/ VERB
If you alert someone to a situation, especially a dangerous or unpleasant situation, you tell them about it.
He wanted to alert people to the danger.
American English: alert
Arabic: يُنَبِه
Brazilian Portuguese: alertar
Chinese: 提醒
Croatian: uzbuniti
Czech: varovat
Danish: gøre opmærksom på
Dutch: waarschuwen
European Spanish: alertar
Finnish: hälyttää
French: alerter
German: warnen
Greek: προειδοποιώ
Italian: allertare
Japanese: 警報を出す
Korean: 경고하다
Norwegian: varsle
Polish: ostrzec
European Portuguese: alertar
Romanian: a preveni
Russian: предупреждать (об опасности)
Latin American Spanish: alertar
Swedish: larma
Thai: เตรียมพร้อม ว่องไว
Turkish: uyarmak
Ukrainian: попереджувати про небезпеку
Vietnamese: cảnh báo
British English: alert NOUN
An alert is a situation in which people prepare themselves for something dangerous that might happen soon.
Due to a security alert, this train will not be stopping at Oxford Circus.
American English: alert
Brazilian Portuguese: alerta
Chinese: 戒备状态
European Spanish: alerta
French: alerte
German: Alarm
Italian: allarme
Japanese: 警戒態勢
Korean: 경계 경보
European Portuguese: alerta
Latin American Spanish: alerta
All related terms of 'alert'
air alert
the condition in which combat aircraft are airborne and ready for an operation
on alert
If soldiers or police are on alert , they are ready to deal with anything that may happen .
red alert
If a hospital, a police force, or a military force is on red alert , they have been warned that there may be an emergency, so they can be ready to deal with it.
Amber alert
a notification to the general public, such as by commercial radio or electronic traffic-condition signs, regarding an abduction of a child
blue alert
an alert following the first, or yellow, alert, in which air attack seems probable
over-alert
abnormally alert
white alert
an all-clear signal , directive , etc., indicating that the danger of air raid no longer exists
yellow alert
the first alert given when enemy aircraft are discovered approaching a military installation , city, coastline , etc
on the alert
If you are on the alert for something, you are ready to deal with it if it happens .
alert the public
You can refer to people in general, or to all the people in a particular country or community, as the public .
Chinese translation of 'alert'
alert
(əˈləːt)
adj
(= wide awake) 警觉(覺)的 (jǐngjué de)
alert to sth (danger, opportunity) 对(對)某事警觉(覺) (duì mǒushì jǐngjué)
n(c)
(= situation)
a security alert安全警戒 (ānquán jǐngjiè) (个(個), gè)
vt
[authorities, police]使警觉(覺) (shǐ jǐngjué)
to alert sb to sth使某人对(對)某事警觉(覺) (shǐ mǒurén duì mǒushì jǐngjué)
on the alert (for sth)(对(對)某事)警觉(覺) ((duì mǒushì) jǐngjué)