alarmed

alarmed — adjective

1. feeling suddenly afraid that something bad or dangerous may be about to happen,

1.形容詞B1
釋義

feeling suddenly afraid that something bad or dangerous may be about to happen, often because of something you have just seen or heard.

例句

Zara was alarmed to find the front door wide open when she got home from work.

alarmed + to-infinitive after a linking verb

Doctors are alarmed by the sharp rise in flu cases at local schools this winter.

be alarmed by + noun phrase

同義詞
  • frightened

    stronger and more general; 'alarmed' suggests a sudden reaction to a specific trigger

  • worried

    longer-lasting unease; 'alarmed' is sharper and shorter

  • startled

    physical jump-reaction; 'alarmed' adds the sense of likely danger

反義詞
  • calm

    showing no sign of fear or worry

  • unconcerned

    not bothered by something that might worry others

文法句型

be alarmed by + noun

be alarmed at + noun

be alarmed to + infinitive

be alarmed that + clause

用法筆記

Almost always used predicatively (after be, look, sound, seem, feel) rather than before a noun. The cause is usually introduced by 'by', 'at', a to-infinitive, or a that-clause.

常見錯誤

❌I saw an alarmed woman in the street.
✅The woman in the street looked alarmed.
💡for sense 1, 'alarmed' normally comes after a linking verb, not before the noun.
❌She was alarmed for the news.
✅She was alarmed by the news.
💡use 'by' or 'at' to introduce the cause, not 'for'.

2. having an electronic security device attached so that a loud warning sound is pr

2.形容詞B2
釋義

having an electronic security device attached so that a loud warning sound is produced if someone tries to open, move, or break in.

例句

All the back gates in the warehouse are alarmed and linked to the security office.

predicative use: be alarmed (referring to a building)

Please do not lean on the glass cases; this museum room has alarmed display cabinets.

attributive: alarmed + noun

同義詞
  • secured

    general term for protected; doesn't say how

  • wired

    informal; suggests connected to a sensor or alarm circuit

反義詞
  • unalarmed

    having no alarm fitted (rare; usually phrased as 'without an alarm')

文法句型

an alarmed + noun (door, gate, car, building)

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes objects (doors, vehicles, rooms), never people, and is happily used before a noun (an alarmed gate). If the subject is a person and could feel emotion, sense 1 is meant.

常見錯誤

❌The driver was alarmed and would beep loudly.
✅The car was alarmed and would beep loudly.
💡only the vehicle or place can be 'alarmed' in this sense; people cannot.