a sudden fear or distressing suspense caused by an awareness of danger; apprehension; fright.
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.
an automatic device that serves to call attention, to rouse from sleep, or to warn of fire, smoke, an intruder, etc.
a warning sound; signal for attention.
Animal Behavior. any sound, outcry, chemical discharge, action, or other signal that functions to draw attention to a potential predator.
Fencing. an appeal or a challenge made by a step or stamp on the ground with the advancing foot.
Archaic. a call to arms.
verb (used with object)
to make fearful or apprehensive; distress.
to warn of danger; rouse to vigilance and swift measures for safety.
to fit or equip with an alarm or alarms, as for fire, smoke, or robbery: to alarm one's house and garage.
Origin of alarm
1350–1400; Middle English alarme, alarom<Middle French <Old Italian allarme, noun from phrase all'arme to (the) arms. See arm2
SYNONYMS FOR alarm
1 consternation; terror, panic.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR alarm ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for alarm
1. See fear. 8. See frighten.
OTHER WORDS FROM alarm
a·larm·a·ble,adjectivea·larm·ed·ly[uh-lahr-mid-lee], /əˈlɑr mɪd li/, adverbpre·a·larm,verb (used with object),nounun·a·larmed,adjective
Words nearby alarm
alar, alar cartilage, Alarcón, Alaric, à la rigueur, alarm, alarm clock, alarming, alarmist, alarm reaction, alar spine
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.
Amazon debuted a long list of products today. Here are 3 standouts|jonathanvanian2015|September 24, 2020|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.
New Amazon hardware: Ring drones, Echo Dot 4th Gen, Wi-Fi 6 Eero, and more|Jim Salter|September 24, 2020|Ars Technica
Other Fed officials have also sounded the alarm in recent days.
Pelosi abruptly shifts course, restarts relief push amid signs economy is straining|Erica Werner, Rachael Bade|September 24, 2020|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.
Early immune responses may be why younger people get less sick from COVID-19|Erin Garcia de Jesus|September 23, 2020|Science News
Hospital and other local officials on both sides of the border raised the alarm that the border itself was facilitating the spread.
Border Report: New Challenges for Day Laborers|Adriana Heldiz and Maya Srikrishnan|September 21, 2020|Voice of San Diego
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.
Julianne Moore Is Oscar Gold in ‘Still Alice’|Marlow Stern|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If the idea of a religious vigilante ambushing sex workers in his spare time sets off alarm bells, it probably should.
To Catch a Sex Worker: A&E’s Awful, Exploitative Ambush Show|Samantha Allen|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Brown was still sounding the alarm about one particular firm, Booz Allen Hamilton, when he was arrested on September 12, 2012.
Sentencing Looms for Barrett Brown, Advocate for “Anonymous”|Kevin M. Gallagher|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To turn it down, would have set off alarm bells to her family.
Don Lemon and the Rest of Society Don’t Understand How Rape Works|Emily Shire|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But that the CNN-John King blunder even happened is a cause for alarm.
‘Newsroom’ Premiere: Aaron Sorkin Puts CNN on Blast Over the Boston Bombing|Kevin Fallon|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Frontenac defines his position and raises a note of alarm in his very first despatch to the minister for the colonies.
Count Frontenac|William Dawson LeSueur
Henri accompanied me thither, and that, while they remained there, nothing happened to excite any alarm.
The Mysteries of Udolpho|Ann Radcliffe
"You must tell them," she said suddenly, with a return of her alarm.
Second String|Anthony Hope
The alarm was given, and the French, led by Joan, came out of the city and ranged themselves in front of their enemies.
Heroines That Every Child Should Know|Various
This he performed on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of November, and continued still on the coast in order to alarm and distress the enemy.
Fifty-two Stories of the British Navy, from Damme to Trafalgar.|Alfred H. Miles
British Dictionary definitions for alarm
alarm
/ (əˈlɑːm) /
verb(tr)
to fill with apprehension, anxiety, or fear
to warn about danger; alert
to fit or activate a burglar alarm on a house, car, etc
noun
fear or terror aroused by awareness of danger; fright
apprehension or uneasinessthe idea of failing filled him with alarm
a noise, signal, etc, warning of danger
any device that transmits such a warninga burglar alarm
the device in an alarm clock that triggers off the bell or buzzer
short for alarm clock
archaica call to arms
fencinga warning or challenge made by stamping the front foot
Derived forms of alarm
alarming, adjectivealarmingly, adverb
Word Origin for alarm
C14: from Old French alarme, from Old Italian all'arme to arms; see arm ²