beware
Americanverb (used with object)
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bewares,
present (3rd person singular)
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bewared,
past participle, past
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bewaring
present participle
verb (used without object)
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bewares,
present (3rd person singular)
-
bewared,
past participle, past
-
bewaring
present participle
verb
Usage
What does beware mean? Beware means be careful or cautious—watch out for danger or other bad stuff. Beware is a command (or at least a suggestion). Sometimes, it’s used by itself, as in Beware! There are dark forces afoot! More commonly, it’s immediately followed by the specific thing you should beware of, as in Beware the words of politicians. Perhaps most commonly, it’s paired with the word of, such as on a sign that says Beware of cat. (You thought we were going to say Beware of dog, didn’t you? Stay alert, folks. Beware a wily dictionary.)Example: Before you enter the internet, there should be a sign that says “Beware of trolls.”
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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bewaresimple
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bewaressimple
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have bewaredperfect
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has bewaredperfect
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am bewaringprogressive
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are bewaringprogressive
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is bewaringprogressive
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have been bewaringperfect progressive
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has been bewaringperfect progressive
Past
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bewaredsimple
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had bewaredperfect
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was bewaringprogressive
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were bewaringprogressive
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had been bewaringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of beware
1150–1200; Middle English, from phrase of warning be ware. See be, ware 2
Explanation
To beware is to be cautious and on your guard. The riskier the situation, the more you need to beware. A "Beware of the dog" sign means there's a dog in the house who doesn't care for visitors or new people. When you beware, you become very cautious. You look both ways and use extreme caution. This word can be remembered if you break it into two parts: to beware is the same as "to be wary." When you're wary, you're concerned and careful. People in dangerous jobs like the police and fire department need to beware every day.
Vocabulary lists containing beware
"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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"Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll
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myPerspectives 6.4
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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.
See Examples For:
US embassies in capitals across the Middle East on Saturday warned their citizens to beware of "unforeseen escalation" in the regional conflict and urged them to be ready to leave.
From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026
Still, a company spokesperson urged prospective renters and buyers to beware of possible red flags that might signal a scam.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
Gardeners beware that some rural ground frost is still likely too.
From BBC ● May 11, 2026
Ultimately, high-yield debt can deliver outsize returns when the economy is expanding and rates are falling, but beware when rates are rising or the economy is in recession.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026
So in the name of Brother Clifton beware of the triggers; go home, keep cool, stay safe away from the sun.
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
Sunny Days, unless one bewares slavishly of imitations, will do.
From Time Magazine Archive
Then, if one bewares of voluntary mistakes, of exaggeration and unfounded assertion, if one builds only upon actual and carefully observed facts, an important and well-grounded discipline must ensue.
From Criminal Psychology; a manual for judges, practitioners, and students by Hans Gustav Adolf Gross
"And we bewared as hard as we could!" grinned Carol.
From Prudence of the Parsonage by Ethel Hueston
Bot now thou hast somdiel appesed Thi god, and with good dede plesed, That thou thi pite hast bewared Upon the blod which thou hast spared.
From Confessio Amantis, or, Tales of the Seven Deadly Sins by G. C. (George Campbell) Macaulay
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.
