ware

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noun

ˈwer 

1

a

: manufactured articles, products of art or craft, or farm produce : goods

—often used in combination

tinware

b

: an article of merchandise

2

: articles (such as pottery or dishes) of fired clay

earthenware

3

: an intangible item (such as a service or ability) that is a marketable commodity

ware

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adjective

1

: aware, conscious

… was ware of black looks cast at me …

—Mary Webb

2

archaic : wary, vigilant

ware

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verb (1)

wared; waring

transitive verb

: to beware of : avoid

—used chiefly as a command to hunting animals

ware

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verb (2)

wared; waring

transitive verb

Scotland

: spend, expend

Synonyms of ware

Noun

• merchandise
• goods
• commodities

Adjective

• aware

Verb (1)

• notice
• guard (against)
• watch out (for)
• mind
• watch
• beware (of)
• see
• look out (for)
• mark

Examples of ware in a Sentence

Noun

She sold her wares at the market.

a hunter yelling to his dog, "Ware the porcupine!"

Adjective

he's ware of the dangers that await him in the Antarctic

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

During the event, the first president's former estate is transformed into a recreation of an 18th-century winter encampment, where visitors can watch a blacksmith at work or purchase wares from artisans specializing in historic crafts. —Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 14 Nov. 2025

YouTube gathered a group of rising influencers, and Trevor Noah, in New York to show off its latest wares. —Peter White, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2025

Given that Wendy is a Housewife who takes great pride in her accomplishments, lifestyle, and designer wares, Wife Swap engineered the ultimate culture clash by matching her up with the Shapiro family. —Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2025

After the holidays, keep the sled but replace the Christmas-theme accents with winter wares, like white pillar candles in glass hurricanes surrounded by faux snow. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English waru; akin to Middle High German ware ware and probably to Sanskrit vasna price — more at venal

Adjective

Middle English war, ware "cognizant, watchful, prudent," going back to Old English wær, going back to Germanic *wara- (whence Old Saxon war "aware, careful," Old High German gewar, Old Norse varr, Gothic wars), going back to Indo-European *u̯oro-, ablaut derivative of *u̯er- "observe, perceive," whence Latin verērī "to show reverence for, fear," Tocharian B wär-sk- "smell (transitive and intransitive)," Latvian vērties "to look, watch," vērot "to observe," and perhaps Greek horáō, horân "to look, see"

Note: Greek horáō, horân has alternatively been seen as an outcome of an Indo-European base *ser- "keep an eye on, protect."

Verb (1)

Middle English waren "to be mindful, be on guard," going back to Old English warian "to be wary, guard, protect," going back to Germanic *warōjan- (whence Old Saxon waron "to attend to, protect," Old High German biwarōn, Old Norse vara "to warn," varask "to be on one's guard"), derivative of *wara- "aware" — more at ware entry 2

Verb (2)

Middle English, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse verja (past participle varithr, varthr to clothe, invest, spend) — more at wear

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ware

• agate ware
• Canton ware
• Parian ware
• sanitary ware

Rhymes for ware

• air
• ayre
• bahr
• bare
• blare
• care
• chair
• claire
• ere
• err
• eyre
• fair

Kids Definition

ware

noun

ˈwa(ə)r, 

ˈwe(ə)r

1

a

: manufactured articles or products of art or craft : goods

—often used in combination

tinware

b

: an article of merchandise

peddlers hawking their wares

2

: items (as dishes) made from fired clay : pottery

earthenware