alerting

a·lert

 (ə-lûrt′)

adj.

1. Vigilantly attentive; watchful: alert to danger; an alert bank guard. See Synonyms at careful.

2. Mentally responsive and perceptive; quick.

3. Brisk or lively in action: the bird's alert hopping from branch to branch.

n.

1. A signal that warns of attack or danger: Sirens sounded the alert for an air raid.

2. A condition or period of heightened watchfulness or preparation for action: Nuclear-armed bombers were put on alert during the crisis.

tr.v. a·lert·ed, a·lert·ing, a·lerts

To notify of approaching danger or action; warn: a flashing red light that alerted motorists to trouble ahead.

Idiom:

on the alert

Watchful and prepared for danger, emergency, or opportunity: bird watchers on the alert for a rare species.

---

[French alerte, from Italian all' erta, on the lookout : alla, to the, on the (from Latin ad illam, to that : ad, to; see ad- + illam, feminine accusative sing. of ille, that, the; see al- in Indo-European roots) + erta, lookout (from past participle of ergere, to raise, from Latin ērigere; see erect).]

---

a·lert′ly adv.

a·lert′ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	alerting - a state of readiness to respond; "alerting was indicated by the desynchronization of the EEG" alertness arousal - a state of heightened physiological activity
	2.	alerting - a warning serves to make you more alert to danger alert warning - a message informing of danger; "a warning that still more bombs could explode"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.