alarm clock

American  

noun

1. a clock with a bell or buzzer that can be set to sound at a particular time, as to awaken someone.

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alarm clock British  

noun

1. a clock with a mechanism that sounds at a set time: used esp for waking a person up

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Etymology

Origin of alarm clock

First recorded in 1690–1700

Example Sentences

Gifts here should improve daily life: nicer linens, a staycation, or an upgraded alarm clock to make hitting snooze more pleasant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

The metal ring adds minimal weight when attached and allows the phone to stand in portrait or landscape modes—perfect for reading, watching videos, and propping up the phone as a bedside alarm clock.

From Barron's • Nov. 26, 2025

However analogue clocks will need switching manually, especially important if you are relying on an old-fashioned alarm clock to wake you up.

From BBC • Oct. 11, 2025

Documents submitted to court during Zou's trial show he searched online for "hidden camera" and "electric alarm clock camera" on the same day and made purchases on eBay of surveillance equipment.

From BBC • Aug. 27, 2025

I squinted into the dark and zeroed in on the glowing digits of my alarm clock.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

Related Words

• clock radio