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.

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.

Translations

مُتَأهِّب، فِي حَالَة تَأهُّب

ve střehu

auf der Hut

sur le qui-vive

éberen õrködik

á varîbergi

temkinlitetikte

警觉着

alert

(əˈləːt) adjective

1. quick-thinking. She's very old but still very alert.

2. (with to) watchful and aware. You must be alert to danger.

noun

a signal to be ready for action.

verb

to make (someone) alert; to warn. The sound of gunfire alerted us to our danger.

aˈlertly adverb

aˈlertness noun

on the alert

on the watch (for). We were on the alert for any sound that might tell us where he was.