Alarm — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ə-ˈlärm/

Meaning & Definition of Alarm

Alarm (noun)

  1. a call to arms
  2. a signal (such as a loud noise or flashing light) that warns or alerts; also, a device that signals
  3. sudden sharp apprehension and fear resulting from the perception of imminent danger

Alarm (verb)

  1. to strike with fear
  2. disturb, excite
  3. to give warning to

Alarm (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune

    "observed with alarm the man staggering toward the edge of the cliff"

    similar: apprehension, apprehensiveness, dread, foreboding, misgiving
    related: agitation, anxiety, anxiousness, concern, disquiet, disquietude, distress, disturbance, fearfulness, funk, perturbation, solicitude, suspense, unease, uneasiness, scruple, worry, doubt, incertitude, mistrust, suspiciousness, uncertainty, wariness, defeatism, pessimism, foreknowledge, premonition, presage, presentiment
    near: anticipation, excitement, hope, hopefulness, confidence, optimism, sanguinity

  2. the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk

    "in a daring midnight ride Paul Revere gave the alarm that British troops were approaching"

    similar: admonishment, admonition, alert, caution, forewarning, heads-up, notice, warning
    related: auguring, augury, forecasting, foretelling, predicting, prediction, premonition, presaging, prognosticating, prophecy, prophesying, apprising, informing, notification, notifying, tip-off, advice, counsel, guidance, recommendation, suggestion, tip, announcement, declaration

  3. the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger

    "filled with alarm when the flood waters reached their front steps"

    similar: anxiety, dread, fear, fearfulness, fright, horror, panic, scare, terror, trepidation
    related: phobia, creeps, jitters, nervousness, willies, pang, qualm, twinge, agitation, apprehension, consternation, discomposure, disquiet, funk, perturbation, concern, dismay, worry, cowardice, faintheartedness, timidity, timorousness
    near: aplomb, assurance, boldness, confidence, self-assurance, self-confidence, bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, fortitude, gallantry, hardihood, intrepidity, intrepidness, stoutness, valor, audacity, guts, nerve

Alarm (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to strike with fear

    "I don't want to alarm you, but I think you should know there's a bear on your back porch"

    similar: affright, fright, frighten, horrify, panic, scare, scarify, shock, spook, startle, terrify, terrorize, give one the creeps, make one's flesh creep
    related: appall, bowl over, dismay, floor, jolt, shake, shake up, amaze, astound, awe, chill, daunt, demoralize, dispirit, emasculate, psych (out), undo, unman, unnerve, unstring, discomfort, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distract, distress, disturb, perturb, unsettle, upset, worry
    opposite: reassure
    near: assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe, embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, steel

  2. to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

    "alarmed at the skyrocketing cost of home heating fuel"

    similar: agitate, ail, bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, disturb, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), fuss, hagride, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, weird out, worry
    related: aggravate, anger, annoy, bug, chafe, chivy, exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put off, put out, rile, vex, bedevil, haunt, plague, abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, jar, mortify, nonplus, rattle, shake up, daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, unnerve
    opposite: calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize
    near: allay, alleviate, assuage, appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

Related Entry: Alarm clock (noun)

Alarm clock is a different word from Alarm. The synonyms below are for alarm clock, not for alarm.

  1. as in atomic clock, time clock

    similar: atomic clock, cuckoo clock, grandfather clock, time clock, chronometer, clock, timekeeper, timepiece, timer, clepsydra, hourglass, sandglass, sundial, water clock, chronograph, stopwatch, watch

Related Entry: Alarm clocks (noun)

Alarm clocks is a different word from Alarm. The synonyms below are for alarm clocks, not for alarm.

  1. as in atomic clocks, time clocks

    similar: atomic clocks, cuckoo clocks, grandfather clocks, time clocks, chronometers, clocks, timekeepers, timepieces, timers, clepsydras, hourglasses, sandglasses, sundials, water clocks, chronographs, stopwatches, watches

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Alarm

The most common words with a similar meaning to Alarm:

apprehension, apprehensiveness, dread, foreboding, misgiving, admonishment, admonition, alert, caution, forewarning, heads-up, notice, warning, anxiety, fear, fearfulness, fright, horror, panic, scare, terror, trepidation, affright, frighten, horrify, scarify, shock, spook, startle, terrify, terrorize, agitate, ail, bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Alarm

Words with the opposite meaning of Alarm:

reassure, calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize

Related Words for Alarm

agitation, anxiousness, disquietude, disturbance, funk, perturbation, solicitude, suspense, unease, uneasiness, scruple, doubt, incertitude, mistrust, suspiciousness, uncertainty, wariness, defeatism, pessimism, foreknowledge, premonition, presage, presentiment, auguring, augury, forecasting, foretelling, predicting, prediction, presaging

Near Antonyms of Alarm

anticipation, excitement, hope, hopefulness, confidence, optimism, sanguinity, aplomb, assurance, boldness, self-assurance, self-confidence, bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, fortitude, gallantry, hardihood, intrepidity, intrepidness, stoutness, valor, audacity, guts, nerve, assure

Word Forms of Alarm

Inflections: alarmed, alarumed, alarming, alaruming, alarms, alarums

Origin & Etymology of Alarm

Middle English alarme, alarom, from Middle French alarme, from Old Italian all'arme, literally, to the arms

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Alarm

Words & Phrases Containing Alarm

alarm clock, alarm reaction, false alarm, still alarm, burglar alarm, fire alarm, no cause for alarm, raise/sound the alarm

Frequently Asked Questions about Alarm

What does "Alarm" mean?

"Alarm" means a call to arms. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a call to arms. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Alarm"?

Other words for "Alarm" include apprehension, apprehensiveness, dread, foreboding, misgiving, admonishment, admonition and alert. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Alarm" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Alarm"?

There are 178 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Alarm". Common alternatives include apprehension, apprehensiveness, dread, foreboding, misgiving, admonishment, admonition, alert, caution and forewarning.

What is the opposite of "Alarm"?

Antonyms of "Alarm" include reassure, calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe and tranquilize. Near antonyms include anticipation, excitement, hope and hopefulness.

How do you use "Alarm" in a sentence?

Examples of "Alarm" in a sentence: "observed with alarm the man staggering toward the edge of the cliff"; "in a daring midnight ride Paul Revere gave the alarm that British troops were approaching"; "filled with alarm when the flood waters reached their front steps".

Is "Alarm" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Alarm" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Alarm" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Alarm" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Alarm"?

"Alarm" is pronounced /ə-ˈlärm/.