alarm

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a clock or phone app that makes a sound to wake you up at a specific time.

n. a device or software function used to rouse a person from sleep at a predetermined time.

“I set my alarm for seven o'clock so I wouldn't be late for work.”

“He found it difficult to adjust to the early shift, often sleeping through his alarm despite the high volume of the buzzer.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. a sudden feeling of fear or worry that something dangerous is happening.

n. a state of sudden anxiety or fear resulting from the realization of danger.

“The news of the storm caused great alarm among the people living near the coast.”

“The sudden drop in the company's share price caused considerable alarm among the board of directors, leading to an emergency meeting.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to make someone feel worried or afraid.

v. to cause someone to feel a sudden sense of danger or anxiety. Transitive, always requiring an object.

“I don't want to alarm you, but I think I smell gas in the kitchen.”

“The doctor was careful not to alarm the patient while explaining the potential risks associated with the upcoming surgery.”