Words / B2

uh-LURT/əˈlɜːt/

Alert means watchful and ready: stay alert; an alert driver. As a noun it is a warning: a flood alert; a security alert. Warning is a close noun. Do not mix with a lert (not a word). Phishing: stay alert in results week.

Meaning

Watching carefully and ready to act; as a noun, a warning.

Examples

• “Stay alert for phishing emails during results week.”
• “The Met Office issued an amber alert, which is the noun.”

Good to know

stay alert; alert to. Noun: an alert. Close noun: warning. Verb: alert someone to. Weather/security alerts. Not a casual heads-up only — often official.

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