A warning is something which is said or written to tell people of a possible danger, problem, or other unpleasant thing that might happen.
The minister gave a warning that if war broke out, it would be catastrophic.
He was killed because he ignored a warning to put stronger cords on his parachute.
The week's second severe weather warning for heavy rain was issued yesterday. [+ for]
2. variable noun [oft withoutN]
A warning is an advance notice of something that will happen, often something unpleasant or dangerous.
The soldiers opened fire without warning.
With no warning, he was fired from his job.
At the White House, U.S. officials said they had some advance warning of the coupattempt.
Synonyms: notice, notification, word, sign More Synonyms of warning
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Warning actions or signs give a warning.
She ignored the warning signals.
Some fog warning signs had been put up with flashing yellow lights.
Synonyms: cautionary, threatening, ominous, premonitory More Synonyms of warning
More Synonyms of warning
warning in British English
(ˈwɔːnɪŋ)
noun
1.
a hint, intimation, threat, etc, of harm or danger
2.
advice to beware or desist
3. an archaic word for notice (sense 6)
adjective
4. (prenominal)
intended or serving to warn
a warning look
5.
(of the coloration of certain distasteful or poisonous animals) having conspicuous markings, which predators recognize and learn to avoid; aposematic
Derived forms
warningly (ˈwarningly)
adverb
warning in American English
(ˈwɔrnɪŋ)
noun
1.
the act of one that warns, or the state of being warned
2.
something that serves to warn
adjective
3.
that warns; serving to warn
Derived forms
warningly (ˈwarningly)
adverb
More idioms containing
warning
fire a warning shot across someone's bows
COBUILD Collocations
warning
advance warning
dire warning
flood warning
grim warning
official warning
prior warning
timely warning
verbal warning
Examples of 'warning' in a sentence
warning
These warning notices are available to the public.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The company had also been given two warnings that it appeared unaware of.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
These are strong warnings and the government cannot afford to ignore them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Warnings about the slicing of military budgets are not new.
The Sun (2016)
They can kill and should come with a health warning.
The Sun (2016)
She had barely arrived at the international exhibition centre when she was handed a stark Brexit warning.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The Devon force said the warning ended the problem.
The Sun (2016)
I mention all this as a warning of the dangers of going after rich people through punitive measures.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A warning shot was fired but he fled when none of the heavily armoured commandos was able to give chase.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It issued a yellow fog warning covering swathes of the UK until at least 11am.
The Sun (2017)
Watch for early warning signs of danger.
Christianity Today (2000)
There are also warnings about security and causing offence.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We cannot repeat this warning often enough.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The annual charity gig carried a warning to people it may cause offence.
The Sun (2016)
Put government health warnings on delivery vans.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They were given no warning that their sentences were about to be carried out.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We noticed the warning signs a week or two ago.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
She would like her story to be a stark warning to people buying home hair dye kits.
The Sun (2015)
There were scattered reports of looting and warnings of a possible health crisis.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We also use a red and yellow card warning system.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
All direct election comes with warnings attached.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But it was a warning of what dangers are round the corner.
The Sun (2010)
The documents also contained warnings about booby trap devices.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Too often such warnings are presented as counsels of despair.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Others argued that the government or international agencies should have issued warnings and advice and begun stockpiling emergency supplies.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Did he give guidance by advice or warning when it would have been useful or fair to do so?
Torrington, Derek Personnel Management: A New Approach (1991)
Not because there is no advance warning of the subject matter, though that is disconcerting enough.
The Sun (2013)
Two more warnings suggested a problem with the aeroplane's flight control computer systems.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
First, councils must be required to display advance warning signs of such measures.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But he went off message by declaring his support for grammar schools and warning ministers not to build a third runway at Heathrow.
The Sun (2012)
The'pay more for less' warning came after ministers snubbed a plea to give more cash to struggling councils.
The Sun (2008)
In other languages
warning
British English: warning /ˈwɔːnɪŋ/ NOUN
A warning is something which is said or written to tell people of a possible danger, problem, or other unpleasant thing that might happen.
They issued a warning that recovery is likely to be slow.
American English: warning
Arabic: تـَحْذِير
Brazilian Portuguese: aviso
Chinese: 警告
Croatian: upozorenje
Czech: varování
Danish: advarsel
Dutch: waarschuwing
European Spanish: advertencia
Finnish: varoitus
French: avertissement
German: Warnung
Greek: προειδοποίηση
Italian: avvertimento
Japanese: 警告
Korean: 경고
Norwegian: advarsel
Polish: ostrzeżenie
European Portuguese: aviso
Romanian: avertizare
Russian: предупреждение
Latin American Spanish: advertencia
Swedish: varning
Thai: การเตือน
Turkish: uyarı
Ukrainian: попередження
Vietnamese: lời cảnh báo
British English: warning ADJECTIVE
Warning actions or signs give a warning.
She ignored the warning signals.
American English: warning
Brazilian Portuguese: de aviso
Chinese: 警告性的
European Spanish: de aviso
French: d'alarme
German: Warn-
Italian: d'allarme
Japanese: 警告の
Korean: 경고의
European Portuguese: de aviso
Latin American Spanish: de aviso
All related terms of 'warning'
vor
to warn
warn
If you warn someone about something such as a possible danger or problem , you tell them about it so that they are aware of it.
dire warning
A warning is something which is said or written to tell people of a possible danger , problem, or other unpleasant thing that might happen .
early warning
advance notice of some impending event or development
flood warning
A warning is something which is said or written to tell people of a possible danger , problem, or other unpleasant thing that might happen .
gale warning
an official warning of the existence or imminence of gale force winds at sea
grim warning
A warning is something which is said or written to tell people of a possible danger , problem, or other unpleasant thing that might happen .
prior warning
A warning is an advance notice of something that will happen , often something unpleasant or dangerous .
storm warning
a pattern of lights, flags , etc, displayed at certain ports as a warning to shipping of an approaching storm
warning flag
A flag is a piece of cloth which can be attached to a pole and which is used as a sign , signal , or symbol of something, especially of a particular country.
warning light
a light that indicates danger
warning shot
a shot fired as a warning
warning sign
an indication that something is wrong
warning track
a rubberized , dirt , or gravel strip of ground, just inside the walls of the field, that helps a fielder locate the wall while looking up at a fly ball
advance warning
A warning is an advance notice of something that will happen , often something unpleasant or dangerous .
health warning
a message indicating the dangers to the consumer's health of consuming a particular product printed on the packaging for the product
profit warning
a public announcement made by a company to shareholders and others warning that profits for a stated period will be much lower than had been expected
timely warning
A warning is something which is said or written to tell people of a possible danger , problem, or other unpleasant thing that might happen .
trigger warning
A trigger warning is a warning before something such as a film or piece of writing that warns that it may particularly upset some people, especially people who have had a traumatic experience.
verbal warning
A warning is something which is said or written to tell people of a possible danger , problem, or other unpleasant thing that might happen .
warning device
something that provides a warning of possible danger
warning letter
If you write a letter to someone, you write a message on paper and send it to them, usually by post .
warning notice
official notification of a danger or threat
warning signal
A signal is a gesture , sound, or action which is intended to give a particular message to the person who sees or hears it.
hurricane warning
a warning that hurricane-force winds are expected in a given area
official warning
A warning is something which is said or written to tell people of a possible danger , problem, or other unpleasant thing that might happen .
warning coloration
bright and striking coloration , as the conspicuous stripes of the skunk , occurring in many distasteful or poisonous animals
warning triangle
a triangle placed by a broken-down car to warn motorists to avoid it
air-raid warning
an alarm that sounds to warn people when an air raid is expected
distant early warning
a US radar detection system to warn of missile attack
early warning system
a network of radar and communications units intended to detect at the earliest possible moment an attack by enemy aircraft or missiles
hazard warning device
an appliance fitted to a motor vehicle that operates the hazard lights
hazard warning lamps
Hazard warning lamps are flashing lamps on each corner of a vehicle that are used to show the position of the vehicle if there has been a breakdown or an accident .
hazard warning lights
the indicator lights of a motor vehicle when flashing simultaneously to indicate that the vehicle is stationary and temporarily obstructing the traffic
warn off
If you warn someone off , you tell them to go away or to stop doing something because of possible danger or punishment .
warn away
If you warn someone away , you tell them to go away or to stop doing something because of possible danger or punishment .
to be a warning shot
to be a warning
distant early warning line
distant early warning line, a network of radar stations situated mainly in Arctic regions to give early warning of aircraft or missile attack on North America
fire a warning shot across someone's bows
to do something which shows that you are prepared to oppose someone strongly if they do not stop or change what they are doing
set alarm bells ringing
to cause people to begin to be aware of a problem in a situation