warning

7 definitions • 21 examples

something that makes you understand there is a possible danger or problem, especially one in the future:

Completely without warning, he turned up at my door with all four children!

There's a warning on the cigarette packet that says "Cigarettes cause cancer".

let it be a warning I'm not surprised you feel sick after eating so much - let it be a warning to you!

word of warning Just a word of warning - restaurants in this area can be very expensive.

issue a warning formal The Health Minister issued a warning about the dangers of sunbathing.

give someone a written warning They can't dismiss you just like that - they have to give you a written warning first.

warning shot The police fired warning shots but the rioting continued.

a physical condition that shows someone has a disease:

warning sign of The warning signs of the illness are respiratory problems and dizziness.

notice of a possible danger or problem, so that it can be prevented or avoided:

[ C ] Flood warnings were issued by the National Weather Service.

[ U ] The earthquake struck without warning while the city was asleep.

a statement or piece of information that tells people that there might be a danger or a problem in the future:

These figures are a warning to the Bank of England not to raise interest rates too quickly.

The telecoms giant issued a warning that profits would be lower than expected.

a warning about/against sth The Fed gave a blunt warning about America's growing deficit.

The chief executive gave warning that losses on credit cards would get worse in the second half of the year.

adequate/advance/early warning

a blunt/clear/stark warning

come/serve as a warning These figures come as a warning that the crisis is not over yet.

a statement that tells an employee that they have done something wrong:

an oral/verbal/written warning Employees must be given a verbal and a written warning before they can be fired.

a final/formal/official warning

used to show that there might be danger or a problem in the future:

Regulators were accused of ignoring the warning signs that led to the bank's collapse.

signs or information telling people that something bad might happen:

The figures should sound warning bells that the economy is still too fragile to enable interest rates to rise.