Word
alerted
Phoneticsalert·ed
US/əˈɫɝtɪd/
UK/ɐlˈɜːtɪd/
Definition
adj. feeling aware that something important or urgent is happening. You use this when you have been told about a problem or danger.
adj. having been made aware of a situation, typically one requiring attention or action. Often used predicatively after 'be' or 'feel'.
Examples
“The staff were alerted to the fire.”
“She felt alerted when the security guard started watching her closely.”
“The committee remained alerted to the shifting political landscape, ready to adjust their strategy at a moment's notice.”
Examples
simple
“The staff were alerted to the fire.”
contextual
“She felt alerted when the security guard started watching her closely.”
complex
“The committee remained alerted to the shifting political landscape, ready to adjust their strategy at a moment's notice.”
Usage
Often followed by 'to' or 'of' when specifying the cause of awareness.
Pitfall
I alerted to the news
I was alerted to the news
In this sense, 'alerted' is an adjective describing a state, so it requires a linking verb like 'be' or 'feel', not a direct object.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/alerted