Library / English Dictionary

ALERT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger

Synonyms:

alarm; alarum; alert; warning signal

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("alert" is a kind of...):

sign; signal; signaling (any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "alert"):

torpedo (a small explosive device that is placed on a railroad track and fires when a train runs over it; the sound of the explosion warns the engineer of danger ahead)

air alert (the warning signal that begins a period of preparation for an enemy air attack)

burglar alarm (a loud warning signal produced by a burglar alarm)

fire alarm (a shout or bell to warn that fire has broken out)

foghorn; fogsignal (a loud low warning signal that can be heard by fogbound ships)

horn (a noise made by the driver of an automobile to give warning)

red flag (a flag that serves as a warning signal)

siren (a warning signal that is a loud wailing sound)

alarm bell; tocsin (the sound of an alarm (usually a bell))

Derivation:

alert (warn or arouse to a sense of danger or call to a state of preparedness)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A warning serves to make you more alert to danger

Synonyms:

alert; alerting

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("alert" is a kind of...):

warning (a message informing of danger)

Instance hyponyms:

EAS; Emergency Alert System (a federal warning system that is activated by FEMA; enables the President to take over the United States airwaves to warn the whole country of major catastrophic events)

Derivation:

alert (warn or arouse to a sense of danger or call to a state of preparedness)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Condition of heightened watchfulness or preparation for action

Example:

bombers were put on alert during the crisis

Synonyms:

alert; qui vive

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("alert" is a kind of...):

preparation; preparedness; readiness (the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "alert"):

air alert (the condition in which combat aircraft are airborne and ready for an operation)

red alert (the highest level of alert when an attack by the enemy seems imminent (or more generally a state of alert resulting from imminent danger))

strip alert (a state of readiness for domestic defense aircraft)

Derivation:

alert (warn or arouse to a sense of danger or call to a state of preparedness)

alert (engaged in or accustomed to close observation)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Engaged in or accustomed to close observation

Example:

constantly alert and vigilant, like a sentinel on duty

Synonyms:

alert; watchful

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

argus-eyed; open-eyed; vigilant; wakeful (carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger)

fly ((British informal) not to be deceived or hoodwinked)

heads-up; wide-awake (fully alert and watchful)

lidless; sleepless (always watchful)

Also:

wary (marked by keen caution and watchful prudence)

awake (not in a state of sleep; completely conscious)

lively (full of life and energy)

Antonym:

unalert (not alert to what is potentially dangerous)

Derivation:

alert (condition of heightened watchfulness or preparation for action)

alertness (lively attentiveness)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Mentally perceptive and responsive

Example:

was now awake to the reality of his predicament

Synonyms:

alert; alive; awake

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

aware; cognisant; cognizant ((sometimes followed by 'of') having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception)

Derivation:

alertness (the process of paying close and continuous attention)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Quick and energetic

Example:

a spanking breeze

Synonyms:

alert; brisk; lively; merry; rattling; snappy; spanking; zippy

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

energetic (possessing or exerting or displaying energy)

 III. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Warn or arouse to a sense of danger or call to a state of preparedness

Example:

We alerted the new neighbors to the high rate of burglaries

Synonyms:

alarm; alert

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "alert" is one way to...):

warn (notify of danger, potential harm, or risk)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "alert"):

wake (make aware of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

alert (an automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger)

alert (a warning serves to make you more alert to danger)

alert (condition of heightened watchfulness or preparation for action)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The national weather agency for France has put out orange alerts for flooding in large areas of France.

(France's Flooding Rains Examined by NASA’s IMERG, NASA)

These pathways provide various means to alert the cell.

(Cytosolic DNA-Sensing Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)

The findings suggest that pregnant women may want to consider avoiding outdoor activity during air quality alerts, but more research is needed to confirm this association.

(Air pollution exposure in early pregnancy linked to miscarriage, National Institutes of Health)

They observed that during normal conditions, meningeal macrophages were on constant alert against threats, continually extending their thin arms and surveying their environment.

(Meningitis changes immune cell makeup in the mouse brain lining, National Institutes of Health)

These scenarios are known well in advance and are carefully monitored by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, which sounded the alert regarding the possibility of a collision.

(NASA Orbiter Steers Clear of Mars Moon Phobos, NASA)

It makes patients feel more alert and awake.

(Armodafinil, NCI Dictionary)

Local: numbs one small area of the body. You stay awake and alert.

(Anesthesia, NIH)

The state of being alert and ready to respond, or waking from sleep.

(Alert, NCI Dictionary)

The Black Russian Terrier is a rare Russian breed that is robust, strong, large, stable and alert.

(Black Russian Terrier, NCI Thesaurus)

The English Cocker Spaniel is an alert, compactly built, medium-sized dog with long ears.

(English Cocker Spaniel, NCI Thesaurus)