warn
warn Lexical Profile
warn Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To inform someone in advance of an impending or possible danger, problem, or other unpleasant situation.
"Meteorologists tried to warn coastal residents about the approaching hurricane several days in advance."
To advise or urge someone forcefully not to do something in order to avoid negative consequences or penalties.
"The referee had to warn the player twice for unsportsmanlike conduct during the match."
Word Nuance & Usage
Should not be confused with its homophone 'worn' (the past participle of 'wear', meaning damaged by use). Syntactically, 'warn' commonly takes an object followed by 'about', 'of', or 'against', or a 'that'-clause or infinitive phrase.
• Rhymes for warn
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'warnian' (to take heed, give notice of impending danger), derived from Proto-Germanic '*warnōną', which is related to Old High German 'warnōn' and shares a root with 'ware' and 'wary'.