unaware

1 of 2

adjective

un·​aware ˌən-ə-ˈwer 

: not aware : ignorant

unaware of the problem

unawarely adverb

unawareness noun

unaware

2 of 2

adverb

: unawares

Synonyms of unaware

Adjective

• oblivious
• ignorant

Adverb

• suddenly
• unexpectedly
• unawares

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

On the opposite end of the ranch on a sunny October day, the turkeys were calmly milling about their paddock, clucking and chirping, unaware their harvest is imminent. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026

The official wrote that the civilian professor seemed unaware of Hegseth's September 2025 memo. — Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026

Long marches across the country also enabled the students to voice their cause in smaller towns and villages, where people were unaware of the protestors’ aims because of the state’s stranglehold on the media. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026

Sometimes, a real delivery driver is hired to collect the cargo, unaware of the scam, and other times fake driver’s licenses are used to get accomplices hired. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1696, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1581, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unaware

• aftercare
• anywhere
• billionaire
• chinaware
• debonair
• dinnerware
• disrepair
• doctrinaire
• earthenware
• everywhere
• frigidaire
• kitchenware

Kids Definition

unaware

1 of 2 adverb

un·​aware ˌən-ə-ˈwa(ə)r 

-ˈwe(ə)r

: unawares

unaware

2 of 2 adjective

: not aware : ignorant

unawareness noun