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a·lert

alert

 
 
pronunciation:
luhrt
parts of speech:
adjective, noun, verb
features:
Word Combinations (adjective, noun, verb), Word History, Word Explorer
part of speech: adjective
definition: watching carefully; quick to notice and act.
The alert driver avoided a hole in the road.
 
synonyms:
attentive, keen, ready, sharp
antonyms:
faraway
similar words:
agile, astir, awake, aware, on guard, on the ball, quick, swift, vigilant, watchful
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part of speech: noun
definition: a warning of possible danger or the time during which such a warning lasts.
We stayed in the basement until the tornado alert was over.
synonyms:
alarm, signal, warning
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part of speech: verb
inflections: alerts, alerting, alerted
definition: to warn or make aware.
The police alerted the town that a tiger had escaped from the zoo.
synonyms:
notify, warm
similar words:
inform, tell, warn
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derivations: alertly (adv.), alertness (n.)
Word History
The English word alert comes from a l'erte, an early French phrase that means "on guard" or "on the watch." This French phrase came from an Italian military phrase, all'erta. Erta means "a high or raised place," such as a hilltop or tower soldiers might use to see the enemy coming from a distance. All'erta meant "standing on the high tower."
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