activate the alarm

USAGE SUMMARY

'activate the alarm' is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to refer to a physical or digital alarm, in both spoken and written contexts. For example, "Be sure to activate the alarm before you leave the house for the night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

So if you activate the alarm when you go to bed at night, you must remember to deactivate it when you get up in morning.

The New York Times

On the first day of my visit to U.C.S.D., Ramachandran was unable to remember where in the parking lot he had left his car and finally had to activate the alarm on the remote control to locate it.

The New Yorker

With this device a continuously applied voltage causes a small electrical current to flow through the ionized air, and when products of combustion enter, they reduce the current flow and activate the alarm.

Encyclopedia Britannica

If we wait for the clinical clock to activate the alarm we will always be late.

Critical Care

Lock your vehicle, but do not activate the alarm.

WikiHow

They may let you activate the alarm for a fire drill.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The sensors activate the alarms when they pick up a tremor above 5 on the Richter Scale.

Vice

He activated the alarm.

The Guardian

After taking a step back from the till, the shopkeeper calmly picks up his phone, activates the alarm and then grabs a baseball bat to fend off the attackers.

Independent

Nowadays, when a PIR (passive infrared) motion detector registers some movement, it also monitors the presence of an infrared signal, so the entity detected has to be something that also emits infrared radiation usually perceived as heat — before the sensor activates the alarm.

SEP

The men stole a number of cash boxes of unknown value before activating the alarm and fleeing, according to a report by Victoria Police.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing instructions for security systems, use "activate the alarm" to clearly communicate the action needed to arm the system before leaving a premises or setting it for the night.

Common error

Avoid using "activate the alarm" when you mean configuring the settings. Activation is the final step; setting parameters involves adjusting sensitivity or scheduling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "activate the alarm" functions as a directive, specifically an imperative, instructing someone to initiate the functioning of an alarm system. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "activate the alarm" is a straightforward command used to instruct someone to turn on an alarm system. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English, serving as a directive for ensuring security or alerting others to potential danger. It appears in contexts ranging from news reports and scientific articles to instructional wikis. Though simple, it is crucial to distinguish it from configuration steps. Related phrases include "set off the alarm" and "trigger the alarm", which emphasize the immediate sounding of the alarm. When security is paramount, clarity in language is key.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

set off the alarm

Focuses on triggering the alarm, shifting from the action of activating to the result.

trigger the alarm

Emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship, highlighting what initiates the alarm.

sound the alarm

Highlights the auditory aspect of the alarm, focusing on the noise it produces.

turn on the alarm

A more general way of indicating the activation of the alarm system.

enable the alarm

Focuses on making the alarm system operational, rather than the specific act of activating it.

initiate the alarm

Implies starting the alarm process, often used in a more formal context.

start the alarm

A simple and direct way of saying to begin the alarm's function.

arouse the alarm

Evokes the idea of awakening or triggering the alarm system.

trip the alarm

Emphasizes the mechanism by which the alarm is activated.

switch on the alarm

Similar to 'turn on', but might imply a more manual method of activation.

FAQs

How can I use "activate the alarm" in a sentence?

You can use "activate the alarm" in sentences like: "Remember to activate the alarm before leaving the building" or "He had to "activate the alarm" to alert the authorities".

What is a synonym for "activate the alarm"?

Synonyms for "activate the alarm" include "set off the alarm", "trigger the alarm", or "sound the alarm", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "activated the alarm"?

Yes, "activated the alarm" is grammatically correct and represents the past tense of "activate the alarm". For instance, "She activated the alarm after noticing suspicious activity".

What's the difference between "activate the alarm" and "deactivate the alarm"?

"Activate the alarm" means to turn the alarm system on, while "deactivate the alarm" means to turn it off. Activating provides security, while deactivating stops the alarm from sounding.