alarm clock

American  

noun

alarm clocks plural

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

---

alarm clock British  

noun

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

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• alarm clocks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of alarm clock

First recorded in 1690–1700

Example Sentences

Mr. Stoddard sells the occasional vintage alarm clock through his store and website.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

Klugo’s Bluetooth alarm clock isn’t portable, and the hotel alarms ring too softly for him to hear.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

His alarm clock, a big and bulky machine that’s Bluetooth-connected to the house’s fire alarm, rattles his room until he finally shuts it off.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

And then I’ll go “shh” and she’ll stop for a few minutes and the alarm clock goes off and then boom, we launch.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

And heaven help the sleepy traveler trying to set the alarm clock in his hotel room who must interpret “alarm function” and “second display mode.”

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• clock radio