fore ‧ warn /fɔːˈwɔːn $ fɔːrˈwɔːrn/ BrE AmE verb [transitive often passive]
1 . to warn someone about something dangerous, unpleasant, or unexpected before it happens
forewarn somebody of/about something
We’d been forewarned of the dangers of travelling at night.
2 . forewarned is forearmed used to say that it is better to know about something before it happens, so that you can be prepared for it
—forewarning noun [uncountable and countable]
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THESAURUS
▪ warn to tell someone about something bad or dangerous that might happen, so that they can avoid it or prevent it:
I warned you about sitting out in the sun too long.
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We were warned that there could be delays on the motorway, so we took another route.
▪ give somebody a warning to tell someone that if they continue to behave in an unsatisfactory way, they will be punished:
He’s already been given several warnings about handing in his essays late.
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The US gave a warning that if the hostages were not released, it would be forced to take military action.
▪ alert to officially or publicly warn people of possible danger so that they can prevent it or be ready to deal with it:
a campaign to alert people to the dangers of smoking
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An anonymous caller alerted the police that a bomb was due to go off.
▪ tip somebody off informal to secretly warn someone about something that is going to happen – used especially about warning the police about a crime:
The police found the drugs after being tipped off by local residents.
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Informants tipped the FBI off.
▪ caution formal to warn someone to do or not to do something in order to avoid a dangerous or bad result:
People are being cautioned against using credit cards abroad, in case of fraud.
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Health officials have cautioned the public to wash fruit thoroughly before eating it.
▪ forewarn /fɔːˈwɔːn $ fɔːrˈwɔːrn/ [usually passive] formal to warn someone about something that is going to happen, so that you are expecting it or ready for it:
We had been forewarned that the roads weren’t very good.