alarmnoun
uk/əˈlɑːm/us/əˈlɑːrm/alarm noun (WARNING)
[ C ] a warning of danger, usually a loud noise or flashing light:
B1 [ C ] a device that makes a loud noise to warn of danger:
A2 [ C ] an alarm clock
B1 [ C ] If an electronic device such as a watch or computer has an alarm, it can be set to make a noise at a particular time.
More examples
- If the alarm sounds, leave the building immediately.
- The fire alarm goes off accidentally so often that when it's the real thing nobody will take any notice.
- Quick, sound the alarm - there's a fire in the machine room!
- Police said the thieves were obviously well acquainted with the alarm system at the department store.
- I heard his alarm clock bleeping this morning.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Threats & warnings
- (I) told you (so)! idiom
- (just) you wait idiom
- bell
- cautionary tale
- do you want to make something/anything of it? idiom
- early warning system
- emergency cord
- fire a (warning) shot across sb's bow idiom
- forewarn
- heads-up
- notice
- ring/sound alarm bells idiom
- siren
- slap
- sound
- tip
- ultimatum
- wake-up call
- warning
- warning/alarm bells start to ring/sound idiom
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alarm noun (WORRY)
C2 [ U ] sudden worry and fear, especially that something dangerous or unpleasant might happen:
More examples
- The birds flew off in alarm when the cat appeared.
- There was alarm in the stock market today when prices suddenly began to drop.
- The gun shot made the monkeys chatter in alarm.
- It's all right, everybody - there's no need for alarm.
- A bomb threat caused great alarm in the City this morning.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Fear & phobias
- acrophobia
- aerophobia
- agoraphobic
- arachnophobia
- bogey
- chill
- claustrophobia
- cold sweat
- fearful
- fright
- homophobia
- horror
- hydrophobia
- hydrophobic
- mortal
- panic
- panic stations
- phobia
- terror
- xenophobe
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Idiom(s)
alarmverb [ T ]
uk/əˈlɑːm/us/əˈlɑːrm/C1 to make someone worried or frightened:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Causing anxiety and worry
- alarming
- bite
- catch up with sb
- come back to bite sb idiom
- come back/home to roost idiom
- dread
- flap
- frighten sb/sth away/off
- get/go beyond a joke idiom
- give sb the jitters idiom
- gnaw
- harass
- suspenseful
- sweat
- tense
- troubling
- unnerve
- unsettling
- weigh
- weigh on sb/sth
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