Word
aware
US/əˈwɛɹ/
UK/ɐwˈeə/
Definitions
01knowing a fact
B1 · Intermediate
adj. knowing about something or noticing that it exists.
adj. having knowledge or perception of a situation or fact. Usually used with 'of' or a 'that' clause.
“Were you aware of the change in the meeting time?”
“Most consumers are fully aware that prices tend to rise during the holiday season, yet spending habits remain largely unchanged.”
Usage
Commonly follows the verb 'to be' and takes the preposition 'of' or a 'that' clause.
Pitfall
I am aware about the problem.
I am aware of the problem.
Use the preposition 'of' after aware when followed by a noun.
02alert to danger
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. watching out for problems or danger.
adj. vigilant or on one's guard against potential difficulty or danger.
“You need to be aware when walking alone in a new city at night.”
“Mountain hikers must remain constantly aware of shifting weather patterns, as conditions can turn treacherous within minutes.”
Antonyms
03to inform
C2 · Proficiency Dialect · Informal
v. to tell someone about something so they know it.
v. to make someone aware of a fact or situation. This usage is nonstandard and typically found in specific dialects.
“He tried to aware me of the situation before the boss arrived.”
“In certain regional dialects, you might hear a speaker attempt to aware their colleagues of a pending deadline.”
Usage
Transitive verb; takes a direct object.
Teaching tip
This verbal use is rare in standard English; learners should stick to 'inform' or 'make aware'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “aware” in context.
Verb
01. become aware
“She slowly became aware of a strange noise coming from the basement.”
verb + adj
02. make someone aware
“The teacher tried to make the students aware of the importance of recycling.”
verb + noun + adj
Adjective
03. aware of
“Were you aware of the changes to the bus schedule this morning?”
adj + prep
04. socially aware
“The company wants to be more socially aware and help the local community.”
adv + adj
05. fully aware
“I am fully aware that this project will take a lot of time to complete.”
adv + adj
Adverb
06. painfully aware
“He was painfully aware of his lack of experience during the job interview.”
adv + adj
07. well aware
“We are well aware of the risks involved in this mountain climb.”
adv + adj
Etymology
From Middle English aware, iwar, iware, ywar, from Old English ġewær (“aware”), from Proto-West Germanic gawar, from Proto-Germanic waraz (“aware, cautious”), from Proto-Indo-European worós (“attentive”), from wer- (“to heed; watch out”). Cognate with Dutch gewaar, German gewahr, Danish var, Swedish var, Icelandic varr.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/aware