Change warning as time moves forward (5)
I believe the answer is:
alter
'change' is the definition.
(synonyms)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for alter that I've seen before include "shift" , "Alert to change" , "Adapt" , "Change or adjust" , "and 10 Across: Second self" .)