alert

1 of 3

adjective

ə-ˈlərt

Synonyms of alert next

: watchful and prompt to meet danger or emergency

an alert guard

trying to stay alert to possible problems

: quick to perceive and act

mentally alert

: active, brisk

elicited an alert response

alertly adverb

alertness noun

alert

2 of 3

noun

: a state of careful watching and readiness especially for danger or opportunity

on 24-hour alert

: an alarm or other signal of danger

traffic alerts

They sounded the alert.

: an urgent notice

… an alert to parents … about new immunization requirements.—

Ann Schrader

: the period during which an alert is in effect

alert

3 of 3

verb

alerted; alerting; alerts

transitive verb

: to call (someone) to a state of readiness : warn

alerted the school board of a possible teachers' strike

alert the authorities

: to make (someone) aware of something

alerted the public to the dangers of pesticides

Phrases

on the alert

: looking for or expecting something (such as danger or an opportunity)

Drivers need to be on the alert for icy conditions.

always on the alert for a good bargain

Choose the Right Synonym for alert

watchful, vigilant, wide-awake, alert mean being on the lookout especially for danger or opportunity.

watchful is the least explicit term.

the watchful eye of the department supervisor

vigilant suggests intense, unremitting, wary watchfulness.

eternally vigilant in the safeguarding of democracy

wide-awake applies to watchfulness for opportunities and developments more often than dangers.

wide-awake companies latched onto the new technology

alert stresses readiness or promptness in meeting danger or in seizing opportunity.

alert traders anticipated the stock market's slide

intelligent, clever, alert, quick-witted mean mentally keen or quick.

intelligent stresses success in coping with new situations and solving problems.

an intelligent person could assemble it fast

clever implies native ability or aptness and sometimes suggests a lack of more substantial qualities.

clever with words

alert stresses quickness in perceiving and understanding.

alert to new technology

quick-witted implies promptness in finding answers in debate or in devising expedients in moments of danger or challenge.

no match for his quick-witted opponent

Examples of alert in a Sentence

Adjective An alert guard stopped the robbers. He was tired and had trouble staying alert while he was driving. She wasn't mentally alert enough to answer the questions. An alert watchdog guarded the door. Noun They sounded an alert when enemy planes were approaching the city. Medical officials have put out an alert to hospitals to look out for the virus. The government has issued a terrorism alert. Verb Several neighbors alerted the authorities when they noticed strangers acting suspiciously. The governor alerted island residents that a hurricane was coming. The teacher alerted the students that tests would be given the next day.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Adjective

Insurers can enhance their services by offering tailored insurance solutions or advice, helping customers stay alert to cybercriminals who may impersonate local agents to exploit those in the process of recovery. —

Robert Clark, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 Schaffner recommended that at-risk groups get vaccinated and the general population should continue to stay alert. —

Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 19 Nov. 2024

Noun

Hurricane tracker: Track active storms in the Atlantic Texas weather watches and warnings Stay informed: Get weather alerts via text Interactive map: Hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed near your city When is the Atlantic hurricane season? —

Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024 After several other false alerts, including the delivery of flowers and praise from filmmaking legend Yash Chopra, the film remained unsold, leaving the filmmaker to become distributor as well. —

Patrick Frater, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024

Verb

His ability to nearly propel the Bucs past the Chiefs, and do so without his top wide receivers, alerted the 49ers not to take him or the Bucs lightly. —

Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024 Mills has employed one clever trick over the years for getting deer to stop without alerting them: scent balls. —

Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 6 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for alert

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from French alerte, going back to Middle French a l'herte "on guard, on the watch," borrowed from Italian all'erta, originally in the collocation stare all'erta "to be on the watch," literally, "to be on the height" (with erta "height, hill, steep ascent," noun derivative from feminine of erto, past participle of ergere "to raise, elevate," going back to Vulgar Latin *ērgere, by syncope from Latin ērigere) — more at erect entry 1

Note: The earliest citation for the word in the Oxford English Dictionary suggests direct borrowing from Italian, or at least recognition of an Italian source: "In this place the Prince [of Orange] finding his rutters [cavalry soldiers] alert, (as the Italians say) with aduise of his valiant brother, hee sent his Trumpets to D. d' Alua …." (Sir Roger Williams, The Actions of the Lowe Countries, London, 1618, p. 27).

Noun

noun derivative of alert entry 1 (or borrowed from French alerte, derivative of alerte, adjective)

Verb

verbal derivative of alert entry 1 or alert entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

1618, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of alert was in 1618

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Alert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alert. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

alert

1 of 3 adjective

ə-ˈlərt

: being watchful and ready to meet danger

: quick to understand and act

: active sense 3, brisk

alertly adverb

alertness noun

alert

2 of 3 noun

: a signal of danger

: the period during which an alert is in effect

alert

3 of 3 verb

: to call to a state of readiness : warn

Last Updated: 27 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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alert

adjective

noun

verb

Synonyms

Examples of alert in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near alert

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition