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unawares

[ uhn-uh-wairz ]

/ ˌʌn əˈwɛərz /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR unawares ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb

while not aware or conscious of a thing oneself; unknowingly or inadvertently.

without warning; by surprise; suddenly; unexpectedly: to come upon someone unawares.

Origin of unawares

First recorded in 1525–35; unaware + -s¹

Words nearby unawares

unauthorized, unavailable, unavailing, unavoidable, unaware, unawares, unbacked, unbalance, unbalanced, unbalanced translocation, unballasted

Example sentences from the Web for unawares

Unawares to thyself thou hast forged thine own chains, and riveted them upon thy limbs.

St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, January 1878, No. 3 |Various
But even with such preparation, her beauty seemed to come upon him unawares when he saw her at breakfast.

The Gay Cockade |Temple Bailey
He did not know why, but it wrung a sob from him; it took him so unawares.

Pelle the Conqueror, Complete |Martin Anderson Nexo
Occasionally, too, he darted a glance over his shoulder, that the approaching enemy might not come upon him unawares.

With Ethan Allen at Ticonderoga |W. Bert Foster

She's bold enough and clever enough to catch you unawares this very evening.

Armadale |Wilkie Collins

British Dictionary definitions for unawares

unawares

/ (ˌʌnəˈwɛəz) /

adverb

without prior warning or plan; unexpectedly she caught him unawares

without being aware of or knowing he lost it unawares