adjective
-
having knowledge; cognizant
aware of his error
-
informed of current developments
politically aware
Related Words
See conscious.
Other Word Forms
- awareness noun
- hyperaware adjective
- self-aware adjective
- well-aware adjective
Etymology
Origin of aware
First recorded before 1100; Middle English, variant of iwar, Old English gewær “watchful” (cognate with Old High German, Old Saxon giwar, German gewahr ), equivalent to ge- y- + wær ware 2
Explanation
To be aware means to know about. If you're aware of a sled zooming towards you, move! And if you’re aware that the other kids wish they had sleds, share yours. That’s being socially aware. Well done. Aware is a close relative of beware, "look out for." Julius Caesar is famously warned to "beware the ides of March." Too bad he's not aware of why. Beware and aware share the root ware, from an Old English word meaning "careful." Be aware of your purse at all times, and beware of the snatch-and-grab thief.
Vocabulary lists containing aware
Academic Vocabulary Toolkit 1, Words 11-20
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Novel Study: American Born Chinese, Pages 85–233
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Words to Know and Academic Words, Unit 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"There are no suspicious circumstances and his next of kin are aware," a statement added.
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
However, if she chooses not to do that, be aware that she may still see a reduction in her spousal benefit.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
When Williams arrived, the lights began moving towards him and he became aware there was a person and a dog.
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
My parents had been subscribers to National Review from its founding in 1955, so I was well aware of the man and his mission before I came to know him as a friend.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
He was perfectly aware of how absurd it sounded when, for instance, his wife told people, “My husband thinks he and Spider-Man are living the same life.”
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
