adjective
-
having knowledge; cognizant
aware of his error
-
informed of current developments
politically aware
Related Words
See conscious.
Other Word Forms
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.
As a single parent, Porter argues she is acutely aware of gas and grocery prices — as well as higher-stakes consequences.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
Jayme also wants diabetic people to be aware of the risks and how quickly something that may seem minor can turn.
From BBC • May 10, 2026
Vendors at the market are watching their profit margins dwindle and weighing just how much they can raise prices, aware that many of their customers are also struggling to get by.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026
As you may well be aware, you can give your niece money outright, if she’s receiving Medicare/SSDI rather than Medicaid/SSI.
From MarketWatch • May 9, 2026
‘It seems like you have. It seems like you’ve forgotten a lot of things,’ I said, aware of how sulky I sounded, but I couldn’t help it.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
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.
