WARNING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does warning mean? 

• WARNING (noun)
  The noun WARNING has 3 senses:

1. a message informing of danger

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

3. notification of something, usually in advance

  Familiarity information: WARNING used as a noun is uncommon.

• WARNING (adjective)
  The adjective WARNING has 1 sense:

1. serving to warn

  Familiarity information: WARNING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WARNING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A message informing of danger

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

a warning that still more bombs could explode

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

informing; making known (a speech act that conveys information)

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

wake-up call (a warning to take action concerning something that was overlooked or neglected)

alarmism (needless warnings)

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

caution; caveat (a warning against certain acts)

false alarm (a warning that is given about something that fails to occur)

forewarning; premonition (an early warning about a future event)

heads-up (a warning message)

strategic warning ((military) a warning prior to the start of a threatening act)

tactical warning ((military) a warning after the initiation of a hostile act)

threat (a warning that something unpleasant is imminent)

Derivation:

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cautionary advice about something imminent (especially imminent danger or other unpleasantness)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

admonition; monition; warning; word of advice

Context example:

his final word of advice was not to play with matches

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

advice (a proposal for an appropriate course of action)

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

deterrent example; example; lesson; object lesson (punishment intended as a warning to others)

Derivation:

warn (advise or counsel in terms of someone's behavior)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Notification of something, usually in advance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

she had only had four days' warning before leaving Berlin

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

apprisal; notification; telling (informing by words)

• WARNING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Serving to warn

Synonyms:

admonitory; cautionary; exemplary; monitory; warning

Context example:

an exemplary jail sentence

Similar:

dissuasive (deterring from action)

 Context examples 

Alas, his warning was too late!

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There was a new note in his mate's warning snarl.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

I know it is,—replied her mother seriously, or after such a warning, I should be the last to encourage such affection, or even to be pleased by it.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Laurie walked in silence a few minutes, and Jo watched him, wishing she had held her tongue, for his eyes looked angry, though his lips smiled as if at her warnings.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

News will come suddenly, without warning, near December 15, plus or minus two days.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

He remembered Brissenden's warning and laughed again.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It serves as a warning system to rest or avoid certain activities.

(Opioid Pain Relievers May Prolong Pain, NIH)

“I’ve given you warning, Cooky,” Wolf Larsen said, “and now you’ve got to take your medicine.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“Clara!” said Miss Murdstone, in her warning voice.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Finally Gennaro told me, through the paper, that he would signal to me from a certain window, but when the signals came they were nothing but warnings, which were suddenly interrupted.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)