alarm

[ uh-lahrm ]

noun

1. a sudden fear or distressing suspense caused by an awareness of danger; apprehension; fright.

   Synonyms: panic, terror, consternation

2. any sound, outcry, or information intended to warn of approaching danger:

   Paul Revere raced through the countryside raising the alarm that the British were coming.

3. an automatic device that serves to call attention, to rouse from sleep, or to warn of fire, smoke, an intruder, etc.
4. a warning sound; signal for attention.
5. Animal Behavior. any sound, outcry, chemical discharge, action, or other signal that functions to draw attention to a potential predator.
6. Fencing. an appeal or a challenge made by a step or stamp on the ground with the advancing foot.
7. Archaic. a call to arms.

verb (used with object)

1. to make fearful or apprehensive; distress.
2. to warn of danger; rouse to vigilance and swift measures for safety.
3. to fit or equip with an alarm or alarms, as for fire, smoke, or robbery:

   to alarm one's house and garage.

alarm

/ əˈlɑːm /

verb

1. to fill with apprehension, anxiety, or fear
2. to warn about danger; alert
3. to fit or activate a burglar alarm on a house, car, etc

noun

1. fear or terror aroused by awareness of danger; fright
2. apprehension or uneasiness

   the idea of failing filled him with alarm

3. a noise, signal, etc, warning of danger
4. any device that transmits such a warning

   a burglar alarm

5. 1. the device in an alarm clock that triggers off the bell or buzzer
   2. short for alarm clock
6. archaic.
   a call to arms
7. fencing a warning or challenge made by stamping the front foot

Derived Forms

• aˈlarming, adjective
• aˈlarmingly, adverb

Other Words From

• a·larma·ble adjective
• a·larm·ed·ly [uh, -, lahr, -mid-lee], adverb
• prea·larm verb (used with object) noun
• una·larmed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of alarm¹

1350–1400; Middle English alarme, alarom < Middle French < Old Italian allarme, noun from phrase all'arme to (the) arms. See arm ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of alarm¹

C14: from Old French alarme, from Old Italian all'arme to arms; see arm ²

Idioms and Phrases

see false alarm .

Synonym Study

See fear. See frighten.

Example Sentences

“CAF has spent all year growing our development capacity and sounding the alarm of the abortion access current crisis, and specifically the funding crisis,” Qudsiyyah Shariyf, the interim executive director of the Chicago Abortion Fund, told Salon.

From Salon

"If the mother doesn’t feel like they want to be with their baby, there should be alarm bells ringing."

From BBC

If you’re experiencing a profound sense of dissonance between the level of alarm accorded the possibility of a second Trump presidency and the level of alarm apparent in the public sphere as we embark upon the reality of a second Trump presidency, you are not alone.

From Slate

It’s not just Democrats sounding the alarm.

From Salon

Prior to the selection of Zeldin, scientists analyzing Trump’s rhetoric, policy proposals and record expressed alarm at the prospect of his returning to power.

From Salon

Related Words

• amaze
• astonish
• daunt
• dismay
• frighten
• scare
• startle
• surprise
• terrify
• unnerve