Alarming
/əˈlɑːrmɪŋ/
adjectiveBeginner📊CommonEmotion
1 meaning1 question
Definitions
1
Causing fear or worry; disturbing.
/əˈlɑːrmɪŋ/
adjectivenegativeBeginner
Emotion
Causing alarm or anxiety.
The news report was alarming.
💡 Simply: Something that makes you scared or worried.
More Examples
2
There was an alarming increase in crime.
How It's Used
News Reporting
"The alarming rate of deforestation is a serious environmental concern."
Medical
"The doctor expressed alarm at the patient's alarmingly low blood pressure."
From Middle English *alarmynge, from alarme + -ing.
The word has been used in a similar sense since the 16th century, often in relation to military or political events.
Memory tip
Think of an alarm clock – it wakes you up with a startling sound, causing alarm.
Word Origin
LanguageMiddle English
Original meaning
"to raise an alarm"
Base: alarm
alarmingly highalarmingly lowalarming newsalarming statistics
Common misspellings
alarminglyalaming
Practice
Usage
60%Spoken
40%Written