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

• aˈlarmingly, adverb
• aˈlarming, adjective

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

The Ring Car Alarm, which will cost $60, is Amazon’s take on the traditional car alarm, and it comes with features like location tracking so people can remember where they parked.

From Fortune

After setup, the drone can be asked to fly directly, or it can fly on its own to visit disturbances detected by Ring alarm systems.

From Ars Technica

Other Fed officials have also sounded the alarm in recent days.

From Washington Post

Those early immune defenses, which set off alarm bells for the body to go on the attack no matter what the invader, may be weaker in older adults.

From Science News

Hospital and other local officials on both sides of the border raised the alarm that the border itself was facilitating the spread.

From Voice of San Diego

On Christmas Day, sometime after dark, a hideous fire overtook the venue: 100 firefighters, 33 fire trucks, a four-alarm blaze.

From The Daily Beast

The airline industry objects that sometimes these deployable recorders can pop out without cause, spreading needless alarm.

From The Daily Beast

Truth be told, there is no one better at capturing the agony and alarm of a woman in the throes of a nervous breakdown than Moore.

From The Daily Beast

If the idea of a religious vigilante ambushing sex workers in his spare time sets off alarm bells, it probably should.

From The Daily Beast

Brown was still sounding the alarm about one particular firm, Booz Allen Hamilton, when he was arrested on September 12, 2012.

From The Daily Beast

Some of the alarm returned, however, when the creature attempted to climb up by his own ladder.

From Project Gutenberg

There is cause for alarm when they bring one hundred and ten ships into these seas without any means of resistance on our part.

From Project Gutenberg

Her face wore a look of distress, almost of alarm; she kept her place, but her eyes gave Bernard a mute welcome.

From Project Gutenberg

The public eye, ever watchful and timid, waits scarcely for the show of danger to take alarm and withdraw its favour.

From Project Gutenberg

Some of the soldiers secured the porter from creating an alarm; and the rest filling the hall, fastened the door.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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

More About Alarm

What does alarm mean?

Alarm is a sudden feeling of fear or suspense caused by an awareness of danger, as in The pirates boarding the ship filled the captain with alarm.

An alarm is any sound or cry that is meant to alert someone. It can also be the device that produces the alarm, such as an alarm clock. Sounding the alarm means to activate a siren, bell, or a repeated verbal call, usually projected from a speaker of some kind.

To alarm someone is to make them fearful or distressed, as in My parents alarmed me when they started talking about moving south.

To alarm also means to warn someone about danger.

Example: Not to alarm you, but I feel like I might need to go to the emergency room.

Where does alarm come from?

The first records of the term alarm come from the 1300s. It ultimately comes from the Old Italian all’arme, meaning “to arms,” with arms referring to weapons.

Alarms meant to be a reminder to go to an event usually don’t cause alarm in the sense of fear—unless you’re late. Most often, these types of alarms cause you to become alert and aware of something that is needed, similar to how people experiencing alarm become aware of danger.

One use of alarm you might not be familiar with is a certificate of alarm, which is a document that is certified by a home security company and sent to an insurance company to confirm that a house is secured. People with home security systems should pursue a certificate of alarm in order to get a discount on their insurance cost.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to alarm?

• alarmable (adjective)
• alarmedly (adverb)
• alarming (verb, adjective)
• unalarmed (adjective)

What are some synonyms for alarm?

• alert
• warning
• anxiety
• apprehension
• dismay
• terrify

What are some words that share a root or word element with alarm? 

• alert
• arms
• alarmist

What are some words that often get used in discussing alarm?

• fear
• siren
• unease

How is alarm used in real life?

Alarms on phones and clocks are a common way to remind yourself about something.

Set my alarm for 10:30 and my phone was set an hour forwards :(

— michael clifford on tour (@Michael5SOS) June 23, 2014

Not to alarm everyone, but I overheard a supermarket manager tell an employee "Frito-Lay is totally out of product."

— Sean Thomason (@TheThomason) March 13, 2020

My pig refuses to eat lettuce, carrots, celery, or any other vegetable, no matter how hungry she is.

Now I'm alarmed.

I'm raising me.

— James Breakwell, Exploding Unicorn (@XplodingUnicorn) December 13, 2016

 

Try using alarm!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for alarm?

A. aloof
B. alert
C. signal
D. warning