beware
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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.
I had not the slightest suspicion—Gott bewahre, I had not.
From The Road to Mandalay A Tale of Burma by Croker, B. M. (Bithia Mary)
They were all Germans, and there had been unlimited embracing and kissing and sobs of "Ach! mein lieber Sckatz!" and "Gott bewahre Dick!"
From Frances Waldeaux by Davis, Rebecca Harding
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.
