a·larm

(ə-lärm′)

1. Sudden fear or concern caused by the realization of danger or an impending setback. See Synonyms at fear.

2. A warning of existing or approaching danger: The committee's report issued an alarm about the dangerous condition of the town's buildings.

3. A device that is used to warn of danger by means of a sound or signal: a fire alarm.

4. The sounding mechanism of an alarm clock: The alarm went off at 6:30.

5. A call to arms.

tr.v. a·larmed, a·larm·ing, a·larms

1. To fill with alarm or anxious concern. See Synonyms at frighten.

2. To give warning to: "The soldiers ... killed every dog within three miles to prevent a bark that would alarm the enemy" (William Least Heat-Moon).

3. To equip with or protect by an alarm: The dormitory doors are alarmed from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am.

[Middle English, from Old French alarme, from Old Italian allarme, from all'arme, to arms : alla, to the (from Latin ad illa : ad, to; see ad- + illa, neuter pl. of ille, that, the; see al- in Indo-European roots) + arme, arms (from Latin arma; see ar- in Indo-European roots).]

a·larm′ing·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adv.

alarmingly - in an alarming manner; "It grew alarmingly fast"

Translations

بِصُورَة مُفْزِعَه

děsivě

beunruhigend

horriblement

riasztóan

á ógnvekjandi hátt

znepokojujúco

ürkütücü bir şekilde

使人惊恐地

alarmingly

[əˈlɑːmɪŋlɪ] ADV → de modo alarmante
alarmingly high numbers → cifras fpl alarmantes

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

alarmingly

[əˈlɑː^rmɪŋli] adv → de façon alarmante
alarmingly close → dangereusement proche
alarmingly quickly → à une vitesse inquiétante

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

alarmingly

adv → erschreckend

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

alarmingly

[əˈlɑːmɪŋlɪ] adv → in modo allarmante
alarmingly close → pericolosamente vicino/a

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

alarm

(əˈlaːm) noun

1. sudden fear. We did not share her alarm at the suggestion.

2. something that gives warning of danger, attracts attention etc. Sound the alarm!; a fire-alarm; (also adjective) an alarm clock.

verb

to make (someone) afraid. The least sound alarms the old lady.

aˈlarming adjective

disturbing or causing fear. alarming news.

aˈlarmingly adverb

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

She came in, like a ship in full sail, an imposing creature, tall and stout, with an ample bust and an obesity girthed in alarmingly by straight-fronted corsets.

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Julius found his father alarmingly altered in personal appearance, but in full possession of his faculties nevertheless.

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The head looked right enough, but when he placed my hand on the top of it, it sunk in a bed of curls, rather alarmingly low, especially in the middle.

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The price of improved land in most parts of the country is much lower than can be accounted for by the quantity of waste land at market, and can only be fully explained by that want of private and public confidence, which are so alarmingly prevalent among all ranks, and which have a direct tendency to depreciate property of every kind.

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Mrs Nubbles ironed away in silence for a minute or two, and coming to the fireplace for another iron, glanced stealthily at Kit while she rubbed it on a board and dusted it with a duster, but said nothing until she had returned to her table again: when, holding the iron at an alarmingly short distance from her cheek, to test its temperature, and looking round with a smile, she observed:

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My sister, who had begun to be alarmingly meditative, had to employ herself actively in getting the gin, the hot water, the sugar, and the lemon-peel, and mixing them.

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Catherine, though she could not help wondering that with such perfect command of his horse, he should think it necessary to alarm her with a relation of its tricks, congratulated herself sincerely on being under the care of so excellent a coachman; and perceiving that the animal continued to go on in the same quiet manner, without showing the smallest propensity towards any unpleasant vivacity, and (considering its inevitable pace was ten miles an hour) by no means alarmingly fast, gave herself up to all the enjoyment of air and exercise of the most invigorating kind, in a fine mild day of February, with the consciousness of safety.

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Harthouse, taking a turn or two across the room, dubiously, 'it's so alarmingly absurd.

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She telegraphed her wish to Meg, but the eyebrows went up so alarmingly that she dared not stir.

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The officiating undertakers made some protest against these changes in the ceremonies; but, the river being alarmingly near, and several voices remarking on the efficacy of cold immersion in bringing refractory members of the profession to reason, the protest was faint and brief.

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Trumbull allowed the flower to fall alarmingly into strings of heart-shaped leaves--"a book of riddles!

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When little Fanny came into the schoolroom, I hoped she would be mild and inoffensive, at least; but a few days, if not a few hours, sufficed to destroy the illusion: I found her a mischievous, intractable little creature, given up to falsehood and deception, young as she was, and alarmingly fond of exercising her two favourite weapons of offence and defence: that of spitting in the faces of those who incurred her displeasure, and bellowing like a bull when her unreasonable desires were not gratified.

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