alert

The word “alert” means watchful and paying close attention; ready to notice or react quickly. In plain terms, being watchful and ready to react, or a warning message telling you something needs attention.

“Alert” is pronounced uh-LURT (/əˈlɝt/ in IPA).

Here is “alert” used in a sentence: “Stay alert while driving at night.”

Depending on how it is used, “alert” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.

The word “alert” comes from French. From French alerte, from the Italian phrase all'erta, "to the height" (i.e., watching from a tower or lookout).

“Alert” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Alert” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: watchful and paying close attention; ready to notice or react quickly.

An alert is a warning or notification that draws attention to something needing action. An alarm is usually a device or signal triggered by danger, or the feeling of fear it causes; you can receive an alert without it causing alarm.

Use "alert" for someone who is watchful and ready to react quickly, and "aware" for someone who simply knows or notices that something exists. A guard can be aware of a risk but must stay alert to respond to it in time.

Both are messages that draw attention, but an alert usually signals something urgent or important that needs a quick response. A notification can be any routine update, which is why apps often separate critical alerts from ordinary notifications.