unawares
Americanadverb
-
while not aware or conscious of a thing oneself; unknowingly or inadvertently.
-
without warning; by surprise; suddenly; unexpectedly.
to come upon someone unawares.
adverb
-
without prior warning or plan; unexpectedly
she caught him unawares
-
without being aware of or knowing
he lost it unawares
Etymology
Origin of unawares
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.
Harteveldt also said the airlines are making schedule changes well ahead of peak summer travel season so as not to catch travelers unawares.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 28, 2026
As the plane door opened, the couple were caught unawares.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2025
Muir added the bonus point before half-time, as Ben Spencer ran down the blindside from a scrum to catch Saracens unawares before passing to the winger, who sprinted over a tackle into the corner.
From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2024
All of those clips are mesmerizing and alluring and haunting, as if we’re actually looking at invisible spirits or fairies captured unawares.
From New York Times ● Dec. 6, 2024
“Of course. Pyce took us once unawares, but we won’t make the mistake of underestimating him again.”
From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi
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.
