Meaning & use
unaware
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivenot comparable
Not knowing that something is happening or that a fact is true.
Grammar: Comes after linking verbs like be, seem, and become, and is followed by of plus a noun or by that plus a clause.
Patterns
- be unaware of something
- be unaware that ...
- seem unaware of something
She was completely unaware of the changes being made at work.
Many drivers are unaware that the new speed limit starts today.
He seemed unaware of how much his words had hurt her.
adjectivenot comparable
Not noticing what is going on around you, especially because you are busy or thinking of something else.
Grammar: Used after a linking verb; the person or thing being missed usually follows of.
Patterns
- unaware of someone
- unaware of your surroundings
Deep in his book, he was unaware of the rain outside.
The children ran into the road, unaware of the approaching car.
Common combinations
- completely unaware
- I was completely unaware that the meeting had been moved.
- apparently unaware
- She smiled, apparently unaware of the trouble ahead.
- unaware of the danger
- They walked on, unaware of the danger behind them.
- unaware of the fact
- He seemed unaware of the fact that everyone disagreed.
- blissfully unaware
- The puppy slept on, blissfully unaware of the noise.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ignorant
- Stronger and often insulting; ignorant of something suggests a lack of knowledge that the person should have, while unaware is neutral.
- oblivious
- Focuses on not noticing what is right in front of you, often in a slightly disapproving way; unaware is wider and more neutral.
- unconscious of
- More formal and literary, used mainly about feelings or facts a person does not realize about themselves.
Opposites
Word family
- awareness noun
- knowledge or understanding of a situation
- aware adjective
- knowing about something
- unawareness noun
- a lack of knowledge about something, used mostly in formal writing
Commonly confused: unaware or unawares?
unaware vs unawares
This adverb means 'by surprise' or 'without realizing': catch someone unawares. Do not use it where the adjective unaware belongs.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
Unaware can be followed directly by a that-clause, and the word that may be left out, so option 0 is correct. Option 1 wrongly keeps of before a clause.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unaware”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.