oblivious
adjective
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How to Use Oblivious in a Sentence: does it go with 'of' or 'to'?
Oblivious usually has to do with not being conscious or aware of someone or something. When used with this meaning, it can be followed by either to or of:
The cat had crept in silently, and we were oblivious to its presence in the room.
There was no chance that anyone could be oblivious of the dog, though; it greeted everyone in the room with frisky leaps.
Oblivious can also have to do with forgetfulness, and when it's used this way, it is often followed by of (but not to):
The child had brought in a snake she'd discovered in the garden, oblivious of the promise she'd made to leave all found creatures outside.
Whatever meaning of oblivious you choose to use, the noun that correlates with this adjective is obliviousness:
Our obliviousness to the cat's presence in the room was quickly corrected by the dog's discovery of the cat under the chair.
The noun oblivion is related to both, of course, but it is not the noun form of oblivious.
Examples of oblivious in a Sentence
P. J. O'Rourke, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 1996
Prentice looked up from his food, which he had been steadily shovelling in, completely oblivious of everyone.
—Antonya Nelson, New Yorker, 9 Nov. 1992
Oblivious of any previous decisions not to stand together … , the three stood in a tight group …
—Doris Lessing, The Good Terrorist, 1985
Father was oblivious to the man's speculative notice of his wife.
—E. L. Doctorow, Ragtime, 1974
She rested now, frankly and fairly, in the shelter of his arms, and both were oblivious to the gale that rushed past them in quicker and stronger blasts.
—Jack London, Burning Daylight, 1910
the out-of-state motorist claimed to be oblivious of the local speed limit, even though the signs must have been hard to miss
Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
Emma was oblivious to the cars, the don’t-walk signs, even the cold on this windy, 34-degree afternoon.
—Maeva Bambuck, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
As Kelly belted out the chorus, the oblivious driver made easy conversation about his lunch plans, calling in a hibachi order mid-ride.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2026
In season 1, oblivious San Diego solar contractor Ronald Gladden turned out to be the best sport in the world after discovering that James Marsden (playing himself) and a bunch of unknown actors had been constantly lying to him for the entirety of the 17-day fake trial.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oblivious
Cite this Entry
“Oblivious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oblivious. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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oblivious
adjective
