alert adjective, verb, nounBrE /əˈlɜːt/
NAmE /əˈlɜːrt/
adjective
word origin
late 16th cent. (originally in military use): from French alerte, from Italian all' erta ‘to the watchtower’.
example bank
He was as mentally alert as a man half his age.The machine should help to keep the pilot alert.There was a noise outside and he was suddenly alert.
alert•ly /BrE əˈlɜːtli; NAmE əˈlɜːrtli/ adjective alert•ness /BrE əˈlɜːtnəs; NAmE əˈlɜːrtnəs/ noun [uncountable] verb
verb forms
| present simple |
| I / you / we /they | alert |
| BrE /əˈlɜːt/ |
| NAmE /əˈlɜːrt/ |
| he / she /it | alerts |
| BrE /əˈlɜːts/ |
| NAmE /əˈlɜːrts/ |
| past simple, past participle | alerted |
| BrE /əˈlɜːtɪd/ |
| NAmE /əˈlɜːrtɪd/ |
| -ing form | alerting |
| BrE /əˈlɜːtɪŋ/ |
| NAmE /əˈlɜːrtɪŋ/ |
word origin
late 16th cent. (originally in military use): from French alerte, from Italian all' erta ‘to the watchtower’.
[often passive] 1 ~ sb (to do sth)| ~ sb (that)… to warn sb about a dangerous or urgent situationNeighbours quickly alerted the emergency services.Alerted by a noise downstairs, he sat up and turned on the light. 2 ~ sb to sth to make sb aware of sthThey had been alerted to the possibility of further price rises. noun word origin
late 16th cent. (originally in military use): from French alerte, from Italian all' erta ‘to the watchtower’.
example bank
A nationwide alert went out for three escaped prisoners.A security alert was issued after four men escaped from the prison.His sudden disappearance triggered a red alert among his friends.Receive regular email alerts about breaking news.The alert was called off when it was found that the bomb was not live.The army was yesterday placed on a state of alert in case of more riots.The country has put its troops on high alert.The security forces are now on full alert.They rang the bells to sound the alert.They rang the church bells to sound the alert and the villagers then fled.Thousands of police were put on full alert at all main roads leading to the city.You should always be on the alert for anyone who looks suspicious.A bomb alert forced staff to evacuate the building for several hours.A flood alert has been issued in the city after last night's heavy rain.Following the bomb blast, local hospitals have been put on red alert.More than 5 000 troops have been placed on full alert. 1 [singular, uncountable] a situation in which people are watching for danger and ready to deal with itPolice are warning the public to be on the alert for suspicious packages.More than 5 000 troops have been placed on (full) alert. 2 [countable] a warning of danger or of a problema bomb/fire alert 
see also red alert
