ADMONISH

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does admonish mean? 

• ADMONISH (verb)
  The verb ADMONISH has 3 senses:

1. advise or counsel in terms of someone's behavior

2. warn strongly; put on guard

3. take to task

  Familiarity information: ADMONISH used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ADMONISH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they admonish    ... he / she / it admonishes   
Past simple: admonished   
Past participle: admonished   
-ing form: admonishing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Advise or counsel in terms of someone's behavior

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

admonish; discourage; monish; warn

Context example:

She warned him to be quiet

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

advise; counsel; rede (give advice to)

Verb group:

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

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

Sam cannot admonish Sue

Derivation:

admonisher (someone who gives a warning so that a mistake can be avoided)

admonition (cautionary advice about something imminent (especially imminent danger or other unpleasantness))

admonitory (serving to warn)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Warn strongly; put on guard

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

admonish; caution; monish

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

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

Sentence frames:

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

Derivation:

admonisher (someone who gives a warning so that a mistake can be avoided)

admonition (cautionary advice about something imminent (especially imminent danger or other unpleasantness))

admonitory (serving to warn)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Take to task

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

admonish; reproof; reprove

Context example:

He admonished the child for his bad behavior

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

criticise; criticize; knock; pick apart (find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

admonishment; admonition (a firm rebuke)

admonitory (expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective)

 Context examples 

"You needn't stray off too far in doin' it," his partner admonished.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

"Don't come near Bernard now," she admonished him.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It was with a singular jumble of sadness and pleasure that I used to linger about my native place, until the reddening winter sun admonished me that it was time to start on my returning walk.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"Don't get excited when you talk," Ruth admonished Martin, before the ordeal of introduction began.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I was so sensitively aware, indeed, of being younger than I could have wished, that for some time I could not make up my mind to pass her at all, under the ignoble circumstances of the case; but, hearing her there with a broom, stood peeping out of window at King Charles on horseback, surrounded by a maze of hackney-coaches, and looking anything but regal in a drizzling rain and a dark-brown fog, until I was admonished by the waiter that the gentleman was waiting for me.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I might have gone on in this figurative manner, if Dora's face had not admonished me that she was wondering with all her might whether I was going to propose any new kind of vaccination, or other medical remedy, for this unwholesome state of ours.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)