Alarm Meaning
/əˈlɑːm/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy.
nounAny sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger.
Sentence Examples
The fire alarm sounded.
The fire alarm rang.
I can only guess that they don't want to alarm the public yet.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The loud ____ woke everyone in the building at 3 am.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I forgot to set my ____, so I woke up much later than I planned.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English alarme, alarom, borrowed from Middle French alarme, itself from Old Italian all'arme! (“to arms!, to the weapons!”), ultimately from Latin arma (“arms, weapons”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Arming to answer in a night alarm."
— c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
"Sound an alarm in my holy mountain."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Joel 2:1:
"She went about the house in a state of real terror, and yet lied monstrously and wilfully, and invented many of the alarms she spread, and made many of the sounds we heard."
— 1859, Charles Dickens, The Haunted House:
"Lord Marshal, command our officers-at-arms
Be ready to direct these home alarms."
— 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
"Is it then true, as distant rumours run,
that crowds of rivals for thy mother's charms
thy Palace fill with insults and alarms?"
— 1725, Homer, “Book I”, in [Elijah Fenton], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, page III:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The loud ____ woke everyone in the building at 3 am.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I forgot to set my ____, so I woke up much later than I planned.