# alarm

> English word · Noun · IPA /əˈlɑːm/ · frequency rank #4,426

## Definitions
1. A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy.
2. Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger.
3. A device intended to warn or give notice of approaching danger.
4. A sudden attack; a disturbance.
5. Sudden surprise with fear or terror excited by apprehension of danger; in the military use, commonly, sudden apprehension of being attacked by surprise.
6. A mechanical device for awaking people, or rousing their attention.
7. An instance of an alarm ringing, beeping or clanging, to give a noise signal at a certain time.

## Etymology
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”).

## Easily confused with
- **arm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-arm)
- **alm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-alm)
- **alas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-alas)
- **alum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-alum)
- **Amar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-amar)
- **Aram** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-aram)
- **album** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-album)
- **award** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-award)
- **apart** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-apart)
- **aware** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-aware)
- **alert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-alert)
- **altar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-altar)
- **atari** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-atari)
- **Amara** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-amara)
- **Amari** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-amari)
- **alarmed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alarm-vs-alarmed)
- **ala** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ala-vs-alarm)
- **aam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aam-vs-alarm)
- **Aar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aar-vs-alarm)
- **Adam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adam-vs-alarm)

## Common misspellings (7)
`aalrm`, `alamr`, `alarmm`, `alarrm`, `allarm`, `alram`, `laarm`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/alarm