unaware
Americanadjective
adverb
adjective
-
(postpositive) not aware or conscious (of)
unaware of the danger, he ran across the road
-
not fully cognizant of what is going on in the world
he's the most unaware person I've ever met
adverb
Other Word Forms
- unawarely adverb
- unawareness noun
Etymology
Origin of unaware
First recorded in 1585–95; un- 1 + aware; compare Middle English unywar ( see y-)
Explanation
Unaware is simply the opposite of "aware." If you are unaware, you have no idea what's going on. To be unaware is to be totally incognizant (but not incontinent). To be "caught unawares" means you were caught off guard or by surprise. Either way you've got your head in the clouds about something. Now some people might say that ignorance is bliss, but the guy in the crosswalk who was unaware of the bus barreling down on him at full speed might disagree.
Vocabulary lists containing unaware
Novel Study: Of Mice and Men, Chapters 1–3
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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
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"Shakespeare dumbed down in comic strips for bored pupils"
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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.
Most Australians the BBC spoke to were either unaware or uninterested in the couple's visit.
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
The driver of the vehicle, unaware that the SUV riding the shoulder was a federal agent, partially blocked the shoulder to prevent the SUV from cutting off the Cadillac.
From Slate • Apr. 17, 2026
He explained that since 1929, stock markets have tended to have a V-shaped recovery — something which many non-institutional investors are unaware of, expecting rebounds to take more time.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026
The morning after the abrupt shutdown, he said he had to turn away doctors and nurses who arrived unaware.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
Arthur continues chomping away at his chocolate churro, completely unaware that he’s just nudged me really hard in one of my sore spots.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
