I. əˈlərt, -ə̄t, -əit, usu -d.+V adjective
( sometimes -er/-est )
Etymology: Italian all'erta on the watch, literally, on the ascent
1.
a. : marked by careful zealous watchfulness and promptness to counter threats and dangers and to cope with emergencies
silent and alert , like a sentinel on duty — J.G.Frazer
the alert Washington who guided Braddock's army — Allan Nevins & H.S.Commager
b. : marked by ready perception and recognition and by promptness in perceiving, evaluating, or responding
alert to the script's theatrical possibilities — John Mason Brown
alert to urge favorable legislation by Congress — Louis Pelzer
2. : marked by ready activity, brisk liveliness, or quick reactions
an alert birdlike movement — Ellen Glasgow
light, alert step and a certain gamesome assurance of manner — G.B.Shaw
Synonyms: see intelligent , watchful
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : an alarm or other signal to warn of danger (as from hostile aircraft or a violent storm)
b. : the period during which an alert is in effect
2. : the state of readiness of those warned by an alert
sirens brought the whole street to the alert
— see blue alert , red alert , white alert , yellow alert
•
- on the alert
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to call to a state of readiness: as
a. : to make watchful : put on guard : warn
hurricane warning systems for alerting island residents
vigilantes who could alert each community to the threatened danger — Atlantic
especially : to call to a state of readiness for an air raid
sirens alerting the cities long before the bombers arrived
b. : to give warning or notice to (as troops or their commanders) to prepare for movement or action
alerted the division for shipment overseas
2. : to make clearly perceptive to or aware of : awaken , arouse
alerted a community to the need for better schools
a matter of alerting teachers to their responsibility — Educational Leadership
intransitive verb
: to give a warning signal especially in the presence of an enemy — used chiefly of dogs employed in scouting
after proceeding several hundred yards … the patrol's scout dog alerted
dogs alert on all human beings, not the enemy alone — Infantry Journal