unawares

[ uhn-uh-wairz ]

adverb

1. while not aware or conscious of a thing oneself; unknowingly or inadvertently.
2. without warning; by surprise; suddenly; unexpectedly:

   to come upon someone unawares.

unawares

/ ˌʌnəˈwɛəz /

adverb

1. without prior warning or plan; unexpectedly

   she caught him unawares

2. without being aware of or knowing

   he lost it unawares

Word History and Origins

Origin of unawares¹

First recorded in 1525–35; unaware + -s ¹

Example Sentences

It’s bad news if a flash flood comes when people are caught unawares, stuck at home, or in traffic.

From Popular-Science

I found it extremely disheartening that even after so many years of dealing with the war’s aftershocks, I can still be caught unawares of their intensity.

From Time

And, while these shifts are designed to make search easier for consumers, many businesses have been caught unawares, losing visibility on Google.

From Search Engine Land

Know where your risks are, so that you’re not caught unawares when it happens.

From Vox

Such a woman would be much more difficult to catch unawares than a teenage escort trapped in a motel room.

From The Daily Beast

As a result, journalists are often caught unawares when they pop.

From The Daily Beast

And yet strange stuff happens all the time that takes investors and traders completely unawares.

From The Daily Beast

Joined by international and Israeli activists, all wearing tee-shirts that read “I have a dream,” they caught the army unawares.

From The Daily Beast

The Italian fleet was caught unawares by British warships, who sunk three cruisers and two destroyers.

From The Daily Beast

This he did till an evil day when Aunty Rosa pounced upon him unawares and told him that he was "acting a lie."

From Project Gutenberg

And hence, possibly, arose the disquieting sensation that something was gathering, something that might take them unawares.

From Project Gutenberg

Instantly the captain sought to take advantage of it, thinking to catch Garnache unawares.

From Project Gutenberg

He did not dare to call assistance; an unguarded word might have slipped out unawares.

From Project Gutenberg

Queeker had been taken unawares, but he pressed his knees together, knitted his brows, and resolved not to be so taken again.

From Project Gutenberg