unaware

1 of 2

adjective

un·​aware ˌən-ə-ˈwer How to pronounce unaware (audio)
: not aware : ignorant
unaware of the problem
unawarely adverb
unawareness noun

unaware

2 of 2

adverb

Examples of unaware in a Sentence

Adjective she was unaware of the change in travel plans Adverb the predawn attack took the airmen completely unaware
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Initial widespread measles vaccination had reduced measles cases by 99% compared to before the vaccine was available, and consequently, most people in the U.S. are unaware of the seriousness of this disease. Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 And, according to the lawsuit, families are not notified when their children’s buses encounter delays after leaving the terminal — leaving them unaware of when to expect their children to be picked up or dropped off. Lauren Lumpkin, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 On this mind-altering trip, the women may have liaised with deities and divined their society’s future—unaware that the powder’s potency came from its main elemental component: the toxic metal mercury. Bridget Alex, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 Many people are unaware of the links between diet and climate, but among those who are, there's a willingness to make changes. Allison Aubrey, NPR, 3 Mar. 2024 The ice cream was sold to customers who were unaware of the additional ingredient at Roots Café in Newmarket, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire. Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 Piccolo, unaware of the incident, dialed her cellphone, but a bystander answered and informed him about what had happened. Colin Sheeley, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2024 Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, told CNN Tuesday that the group was unaware of any ceasefire agreement that could be brokered by next Monday. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024 Often children are unaware of how to properly process their feelings or analyze emotions in effective ways. Jazmin Towe, Parents, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unaware.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1696, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1581, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unaware was in 1581

Dictionary Entries Near unaware

Cite this Entry

“Unaware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unaware. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unaware

1 of 2 adverb
un·​aware ˌən-ə-ˈwa(ə)r How to pronounce unaware (audio)
-ˈwe(ə)r

unaware

2 of 2 adjective
: not aware : ignorant
unawareness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unaware

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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