Alarm vs Frighten

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Alarm

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 noun

Frighten

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 verb

	Alarm	Frighten
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/əˈlɑːm/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/əˈlɑːrm/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈfraɪtn/","/ˈfraɪtnz/","/ˈfraɪtnd/","/ˈfraɪtnɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈfraɪtn/","/ˈfraɪtnz/","/ˈfraɪtnd/","/ˈfraɪtnɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	A loud noise to wake you up or warn you.	To make someone feel scared.
Example	I set my alarm for 6 AM to wake up early for my workout.	The loud thunder frightened the children during the storm.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B1	B1
Part of speech	noun	verb
Collocations	false, give, raise, sound, call, fire, smoke, burglar, set, activate, set off, go off, ring, sound, bell, clock, system, considerable, great, growing, cause, create, provoke, in alarm, to somebody’s alarm, with alarm, cause for alarm	really, almost, easily, want to, not mean to, try to, frighten somebody to death, frighten the life out of somebody
Antonyms	calm, peace	calm, reassure, comfort
Common mistakes	Using 'alarmed' incorrectly as a noun instead of the sound., Confusing 'alarm' with 'alert' in emergency contexts., 'Alarm' can be thought of as both a sound and a noun, varying its usage.	Using 'frighten' as a noun (should be used as a verb)., Confusing 'frighten' with 'scare' (though similar, 'frighten' can imply a stronger emotional reaction)., Incorrectly alternating between 'frightened' and 'frightening' without understanding the context.
Usage notes	Use 'alarm' when referring to a sound that alerts someone. It's commonly used for morning wake-ups or emergency situations. Avoid using 'alarm' in very casual contexts unless it refers to a clock.	Commonly used when describing causing fear. Suitable in both written and spoken English but more prevalent in storytelling or when discussing emotional reactions.

See it in real clips

I mean, it was like an alarm went off in my head, you know?

Where's the alarm guy?

I mean, it was like an alarm went off in my head, you know?

Where's the alarm guy?

Alarm

Frequently asked questions: Alarm vs Frighten

What's the difference between Alarm and Frighten?

Alarm: A loud noise to wake you up or warn you. Frighten: To make someone feel scared.

Are Alarm and Frighten the same CEFR level?

Alarm: B1, Frighten: B1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Alarm and Frighten?

Alarm: noun, Frighten: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Alarm: I set my alarm for 6 AM to wake up early for my workout. Frighten: The loud thunder frightened the children during the storm.

Can I use Alarm and Frighten interchangeably?

Not always. Alarm and Frighten are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.