false alarm

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Chronic pain, however, continues even after the injury has healed, creating a kind of false alarm that can last for weeks, months, or years.

From Science Daily • Apr. 27, 2026

Historical records reveal there were several close calls in the early ’80s, including the 1983 Soviet nuclear false alarm that could have triggered a nuclear war.

From Slate • Feb. 2, 2026

That turned out to be a false alarm, with a mechanic finding only a malfunction with a warning light.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 31, 2025

If there is no indication of a false alarm or if a second detector sends a warning, fire alarms are then normally activated throughout the building.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2025

These orders were written up and posted on the tents, and the Boss let it be known that he might at any time give a false alarm as a drill.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong