adv

unawares

uh-nuh-WEH-uhz

Unawares (adv) means By surprise; without warning. Example: “The sudden downpour caught the hikers unawares.”

adv

By surprise; without warning.

"The sudden downpour caught the hikers unawares."

Without meaning to; accidentally.

"He let the secret slip unawares during the conversation."

How to use unawares

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCaught off guard, or done without intending to.

Easily confused with

unaware →

Common pairings

catch someone unawares taken unawares

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

The sudden downpour caught the hikers _____.

From unaware + the adverbial -s ending, and actually recorded in English before "unaware" itself.

short

long little low short suddenly tall brief shortly

Ares wares Mares Fares flares Antares

What does “unawares” mean?

The word “unawares” means by surprise; without warning. In plain terms, caught off guard, or done without intending to.

How do you pronounce “unawares”?

“Unawares” is pronounced uh-nuh-WEH-uhz (/ˌʌnəˈwɛə(ɹ)z/ in IPA).

How do you use “unawares” in a sentence?

Here is “unawares” used in a sentence: “The sudden downpour caught the hikers unawares.”

What part of speech is “unawares”?

“Unawares” is an adverb.

How many meanings does “unawares” have?

“Unawares” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: by surprise; without warning.

long little low short suddenly tall brief shortly