beware

verb

be·​ware bi-ˈwer 

bē-

intransitive

: to be on one's guard

beware of the dog

transitive

1

: to take care of

beware your wallet

2

: to be wary of

We must … beware the exceedingly tenuous generalization …

—Matthew Lipman

Synonyms of beware

• guard (against)
• watch out (for)
• notice
• look out (for)

Examples of beware in a Sentence

A ghostly voice cried “Beware!”.

He told them to beware.

The restaurant's food is excellent, but beware the chili if you don't like spicy food.

Recent Examples on the Web

Just beware of too many temperature adjustments, as this can affect the efficiency of your heating or cooling unit. —Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2026

But beware, directors Joe and Anthony Russo insist that these are not exactly teasers or trailers, and are in fact cryptic clues as to the direction of the film's narrative, so carefully dissect and evaluate them at your will! —Jeff Spry, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026

The department also encouraged cardholders to avoid using third-party EBT apps and to beware of phishing attempts. —Sofi Zeman january 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Jan. 2026

Birder beware Above all, Hurt underscores quality and longevity for birdhouse shoppers. —Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English been war, from been "to be" + war "cognizant, ware entry 1"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for beware

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare
• cookware

Kids Definition

beware

verb

be·​ware bi-ˈwa(ə)r 

-ˈwe(ə)r

1

: to be on one's guard

beware of the dog

2

: to be suspicious of

beware the quick excuse