alarm
B1Neutral to Formal. The device sense is common in all registers; the emotional sense is more common in formal/written contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A warning sound, signal, or device, often causing a feeling of fear or anxiety due to perceived danger.
Any feeling of fear or anxiety caused by danger, or a mechanism (like an alarm clock) that alerts or signals a specific time or event.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Has a three-part semantic structure: 1) The device/signal, 2) The feeling of fear/anxiety, 3) The act of warning or alerting (verb). The emotional sense is often formal/literary (e.g., 'raised the alarm', 'alarm bells').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'alarmist' (one who raises alarms) is same. Minor usage: UK 'burglar alarm' often just 'alarm'; US uses 'alarm system' more frequently. 'Car alarm' universal.
Connotations
Similar for physical device. The phrase 'false alarm' is equally common. The emotional sense ('I felt great alarm') is slightly more literary in both varieties.
Frequency
The word is equally high-frequency in both dialects. The verb form ('It alarmed me') is common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
alarm [sb] (verb)[sb] is alarmed by [sth][sth] causes/alarmssound/raise/set off an alarmthe alarm goes off/ringsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “raise the alarm”
- “alarm bells start ringing/are going off”
- “a false alarm”
- “don't alarm yourself”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In risk management ('The report caused alarm among investors').
Academic
In psychology/sociology ('The study measured public alarm following the incident').
Everyday
Referring to clocks, security devices, or minor worries ('I set my alarm for 7 am', 'The news gave me a bit of a fright').
Technical
In engineering/security ('The intruder alarm circuit was tripped').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manager's statement alarmed the staff.
- I don't wish to alarm you, but the deadline has been moved forward.
American English
- The spike in cases alarmed health officials.
- Don't be alarmed by the loud noise; it's just a test.
adverb
British English
- He looked around alarmedly as the noise grew.
- (Rare in both dialects; 'alarmingly' is far more common.)
American English
- She reacted alarmedly to the news.
- (Rare; 'in alarm' or 'alarmingly' preferred.)
adjective
British English
- She gave an alarmed cry.
- He wore an alarmed expression when he saw the results.
American English
- The alarmed residents called the police.
- Her voice was low and alarmed.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My alarm clock rings at seven o'clock.
- The fire alarm is very loud.
- I set the burglar alarm before leaving the house.
- The news caused great alarm in the community.
- Scientists are becoming increasingly alarmed by the rate of polar ice melt.
- He raised the alarm as soon as he saw smoke coming from the window.
- The government's inaction in the face of the crisis has rightly alarmed commentators across the political spectrum.
- The initial data proved to be a false alarm, but the precautionary measures were justified.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ALARM' = 'ALert ARMy' (a signal to alert an army).
Conceptual Metaphor
DANGER IS A LOUD SOUND / FEAR IS A SUDDEN WAKE-UP CALL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'alarm' as just 'будильник'. It's broader: 'сигнал тревоги', 'тревога'.
- The verb 'to alarm' is 'встревожить/напугать', not just 'будить'.
- A 'false alarm' is 'ложная тревога', not 'ложный звонок'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'alarm' as a countable noun for the feeling (e.g., 'I felt an alarm' - INCORRECT; 'I felt alarm' or 'a feeling of alarm' - CORRECT).
- Confusing 'alarm' with 'alert' (an alert is a state of readiness; an alarm is a warning of immediate danger).
- Incorrect verb pattern: 'It alarmed to me' (INCORRECT) vs. 'It alarmed me' (CORRECT).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'alarm' used to describe an emotion?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, as it signals danger or an unwanted event. Even an 'alarm clock' signals the unwanted event of ending sleep. However, it can be neutral in technical contexts (e.g., 'a door alarm').
An 'alarm' is a strong, often urgent warning of immediate danger or problem (fire alarm). An 'alert' is a notification or a state of readiness for a possible danger (tsunami alert, security alert). An alert can be less urgent.
Yes. Noun: 'The alarm woke me.' Verb: 'The news will alarm him.' The related adjective is 'alarmed' (feeling worry) and 'alarming' (causing worry).
It means a warning or signal that turns out to be unnecessary, as there was no actual danger or problem (e.g., the fire alarm rang, but it was just burnt toast).