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

Where the Rio Grande meets the sea, the rockets of SpaceX are launched; astronomers gaze skyward, hawkers shill their wares and environmentalists survey the damage. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026

See the colorful murals downtown, make a reservation for a nice dinner out, and take a detour to the nearby Shaker Village to buy artisan wares and see gorgeous farmland. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026

Employees have not been trained in procedures to measure temperature or sanitizer concentration in the ware washing process. —Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026

Both women also sell their wares at the Thursday evening farmer’s market at the Grange building at 215 Seventh St. —Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026

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