unaware

/ˈʌnəˌwɛər/
/ənəˈwɛ/
IPA guide

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.

Definitions of unaware
  1. adjective
    (often followed by `of') not aware
    “seemed unaware of the scrutiny”
    “unaware of the danger they were in”
    “unaware of the newborn hope”
    “the most unaware person I've known”
    synonyms: incognizant
    asleep
    in a state of sleep
    oblivious, unmindful
    (followed by 'to' or 'of') lacking conscious awareness of
    unconscious
    (followed by `of') not knowing or perceiving
    unsuspecting
    (often followed by 'of') not knowing or expecting; not thinking likely
    unwitting
    not aware or knowing
    unconscious
    not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
    insensible
    incapable of physical sensation
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    aware
    having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception (sometimes followed by 'of')
    awake
    not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
    alert, alive, awake
    mentally perceptive and responsive;"an alert mind"
    conscious
    (followed by 'of') showing realization or recognition of something
    sensible
    aware intuitively or intellectually of something sensed
    witting
    aware or knowing
    conscious
    knowing and perceiving; having awareness of surroundings and sensations and thoughts
    sensible, sensitive
    able to feel or perceive
    show more antonyms...
Pronunciation
US
/ˈʌnəˌwɛər/
UK
/ənəˈwɛ/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘unaware'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family

Vocabulary lists containing unaware

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