alert

Pronunciation: /əˈlɝt/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun condition of heightened watchfulness or preparation for action
  2. noun a warning serves to make you more alert to danger
  3. noun an automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger

Etymology

From French alerte (“alert”), from the phrase à l'erte (“on the watch”), from Italian all'erta (“to the height”), from erta (“lookout, tower”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

qui vive

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
readiness
Narrower (hyponyms)
red alert, air alert, strip alert

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