unaware

unaware — adjective

1. not having any information about a fact, event, or situation — for instance, not

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

not having any information about a fact, event, or situation — for instance, not knowing about a schedule change, a problem at work, or another person's feelings.

Example

Layla was completely unaware of the meeting set for 2 p.m.

unaware of [noun phrase]

Many people in the town were unaware that the water was not safe to drink.

unaware + that-clause

Common collocations
  • blissfully unaware
  • completely unaware
  • totally unaware
  • apparently unaware
  • seemingly unaware
Synonyms
  • oblivious

    stronger than unaware; suggests a complete failure to notice obvious things around you

  • ignorant

    can mean lacking knowledge or education; sometimes more negative or offensive

  • unconscious

    suggests the person does not realise their own actions, feelings, or biases

Antonyms
  • aware

    knowing that something exists or is happening

  • conscious

    knowing and paying attention to something

Grammar Patterns

unaware + of + noun phrase

unaware + that-clause

unaware + how/where/what + clause

Usage Note

Frequently followed by 'of' + noun phrase, or by a 'that'-clause. With question words (how, where, what) the 'of' is dropped: 'unaware how much…' not 'unaware of how much…'.

Common Mistakes

He was unaware of that the shop had shut down.
He was unaware that the shop had shut down.
'unaware of' takes a noun, not a clause; use 'unaware that' for clauses.
The bad news came to her completely unaware.
The bad news came to her completely unawares.
'unaware' is an adjective describing a person; use the adverb 'unawares' to describe how something happens.

unaware — adverb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a lack of knowledge, but they differ in strength and connotation. 'Unaware' is the most neutral and general word — it simply means not knowing about something, without judgement. 'Oblivious' is much stronger and often implies the person should have noticed what was going on around them ('He was oblivious to the dirty looks he was getting'). 'Ignorant' can mean lacking specific knowledge ('I am ignorant of the details'), but it is also used more broadly to mean uneducated, which can feel insulting — use with care. 'Unconscious' describes a lack of awareness that is inside the person, often about their own behaviour or feelings ('She was unconscious of how loudly she was speaking'). For a neutral statement about not knowing a fact, 'unaware' is almost always the safest choice.

unaware ↗oblivious ↗ignorant ↗unconscious ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • catch someone unawares
  • be taken unawares
  • blissfully unaware
  • completely unaware of the fact that

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word 'unaware' was formed in English by adding the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') to 'aware'. 'Aware' comes from Old English 'gewær', meaning watchful or vigilant. The adverb 'unawares' appeared later in the 16th century, adding the adverbial '-s' ending (the same '-s' found in words like 'sideways' or 'needs' used as an adverb).