alarm
alarm
Pronunciation
alarm: /əˈlɑːrm/
First Syllable (/ə/):
/ə/: Schwa sound, like the 'a' in "sofa".
Second Syllable (/ˈlɑːrm/):
/l/: Voiced alveolar lateral approximant, like the 'l' in "light".
/ɑː/: Open back unrounded vowel, like the 'a' in "father".
/r/: Voiced alveolar approximant, like the 'r' in "red".
/m/: Voiced bilabial nasal, like the 'm' in "mat".
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: alarm
Plural: alarms
Verb:
Base form: alarm
Third person singular present: alarms
Present participle: alarming
Past tense: alarmed
Past participle: alarmed
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A sudden feeling of fear or anxiety that causes a strong desire to escape or react.
Synonyms: fear, dread, panic, fright, apprehension, dismay
Antonyms: calm, serenity, tranquility, composure, peace
A warning sound or device that signals danger, an emergency, or a scheduled event.
Synonyms: siren, bell, buzzer, signal, warning, alert
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this sense, as it refers to a device or sound itself. One might say "silence" or "all clear" in context, but not as true antonyms for the noun.)
Verb
To cause someone to feel fear or anxiety; to make someone apprehensive.
Synonyms: frighten, startle, scare, unnerve, disturb, worry
Antonyms: reassure, calm, comfort, soothe, pacify
To warn someone of danger or an impending event, often by means of a signal or device.
Synonyms: alert, warn, signal, notify, apprise, forewarn
Antonyms: mislead, deceive, surprise (in the sense of not giving advance notice)
Examples of Use
Books: "The sudden crack of a twig behind her sent an alarm through the young deer, causing it to bolt into the deeper woods." (From a nature-themed novel, e.g., The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings)
Newspapers: "Authorities issued a public health alarm on Tuesday regarding a rapidly spreading viral infection in the region." (The New York Times)
Online Publications: "Cybersecurity experts raised the alarm over a new strain of ransomware targeting small businesses, urging immediate software updates." (TechCrunch)
Television/Film: "When the security cameras went dark, a red light began to flash, indicating a silent alarm had been triggered." (From a heist film, e.g., Ocean's Eleven)
Music: "The song featured a siren-like synth sound, mimicking a fire alarm to build tension during the bridge." (Review of a track by an electronic music artist, April 2024)
Podcasts: "Our guest today will discuss how the ongoing climate crisis should serve as an urgent alarm for global policymakers." (NPR's Up First, July 2024)
Social Media: "My phone's morning alarm failed to go off today, and I almost missed my important presentation! #sleepy #late" (Twitter post)
General Public Discourse: "When the neighbor's dog started barking frantically, we knew it was an alarm for something unusual happening outside." (Everyday conversation)
Public Discourse (Government/Official Statements): "The governor expressed his alarm at the rising unemployment figures, vowing to implement new economic initiatives." (Press conference transcript)
General Public Discourse (Personal Experience): "I tried to set my mental alarm to remember to pick up groceries on the way home, but I still forgot them!" (Casual conversation)
10 Quotes Using Alarm
"Morning comes whether you set the alarm or not." (Ursula K. Le Guin)
"It is not death, it is dying that alarms me." (Michel de Montaigne)
"We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties." (James Madison)
"Your ambition is the most reliable alarm clock." (Faisal Khosa)
"O solitude, where are the charms that sages have seen in thy face? Better dwell in the midst of alarms, than reign in this horrible place." (William Cowper)
"He awoke at six, as usual. He needed no alarm clock. He was already comprehensively alarmed." (Martin Amis, The Information)
"Disasters work like alarm clocks to the world, hence God allows them. They are shouting, 'Wake up! Love! Pray!'" (Criss Jami, Killosophy)
"I'm not saying my wife's a bad cook, but she uses a smoke alarm as a timer." (Bob Monkhouse)
"There are more things to alarm us than to harm us, and we suffer more often in apprehension than reality." (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
"People don't respect the morning. An alarm clock violently wakes them up, shatters their sleep like the blow of an ax, and they immediately surrender themselves to deadly haste." (Milan Kundera)
Etymology
The word "alarm" has a fascinating journey through different languages!
It first appeared in English around the late 1300s (specifically, the early 15th century for the noun form), and its original meaning was "a call to arms in the face of danger or an enemy." Think of it as a shout or signal to soldiers to grab their weapons and get ready for a fight.
This meaning came from the Old French word "alarme," which in turn came from the Italian phrase "all'arme!" This Italian phrase literally means "to arms!" or "to the weapons!" It's a combination of "alla" (meaning "to the") and "arme" (meaning "arms" or "weapons," which comes from the Latin word "arma").
So, imagine a general in Italy yelling "all'arme!" to his troops when an enemy approached. That urgent cry traveled through French and then into English, eventually becoming our word "alarm." Over time, its meaning broadened from a military call to any warning of danger, then to the device that gives the warning (like a fire alarm), and finally, to the feeling of fear or worry itself.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Alarm
Sound the alarm: To warn people of danger or a problem.
Raise the alarm: Similar to "sound the alarm," to make people aware of a dangerous situation.
False alarm: A warning of danger that turns out to be untrue or unnecessary.
Burglar alarm: A security system designed to detect intruders.
Fire alarm: A device or system designed to detect fire and warn occupants.
Alarm bell: A metaphorical warning sign that something bad might happen. (e.g., "The latest economic data set off alarm bells.")
On high alert/alarm: In a state of extreme readiness for danger.
Cause for alarm: A reason to feel worried or afraid.
No cause for alarm: No reason to worry.
Alarm clock: A clock that makes a sound at a set time to wake someone up.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of alarm from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
