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

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