warrant
Translation
to warrant, to justify, to merit, to require
Examples
His behaviour warrants serious concern.
His behavior warrants serious concern.
The situation is serious enough to warrant investigation.
The situation is serious enough to warrant investigation.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to make (sth.) necessary or appropriate His behavior warrants serious concern.
to warrant ((-ing)) to be a good enough reason for (doing sth.) The situation warrants looking into more closely.
Similar Words
Synonyms: justify, merit, deserve, require
Etymology
From Old French 'warantir', meaning 'to guarantee, protect'. It is related to 'guarantee'.
Memory Tips
Think of a 'warranty' on a product. It 'justifies' or 'guarantees' a replacement if it breaks. The verb has a similar sense of justification.