English Reference
adjective

alarming

adj.
US /əˈɫɑɹmɪŋ/ UK /ɐlˈɑːmɪŋ/ alarm·ing

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    causing you to feel worried or afraid because something seems wrong or dangerous.

    causing apprehension, fear, or urgent concern; often used to describe statistics, trends, or sudden developments.

    Simple

    The doctor said there was an alarming increase in cases of the flu this winter.

    In context

    The report revealed an alarming disparity between the projected revenue and the actual figures recorded during the final quarter.

    Pitfall
    I am very alarming about the news. I am very alarmed by the news.

    Use 'alarming' for the thing that causes the feeling and 'alarmed' for the person who has the feeling.

Usage alarming rate

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated