# oblivious

/əˈbɫɪviəs/ (US) · /əblˈɪvɪəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/oblivious
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. unaware of surroundings

adjective · CEFR B2

not noticing something, or not being aware of what is happening around you.

For teachers: lacking conscious awareness; unmindful or unconscious of surroundings or specific circumstances.

- He was so busy on his phone that he was oblivious to the rain.
- Absorbed in her research, she remained entirely oblivious to the heated argument taking place just a few feet away from her desk.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'to' in modern usage, though 'of' is occasionally found in older texts.

### 2. forgetful

adjective · CEFR C1 · Archaic · Literary

forgetting things easily or not remembering the past.

For teachers: characterised by or promoting forgetfulness; no longer mindful of the past.

- In his old age, he became oblivious of the many awards he had won.
- The poet described a peaceful, oblivious sleep that allowed the weary soldier to forget the horrors of the previous day.

Usage: In this sense, the word is more frequently paired with 'of' than 'to'.

Teaching tip: This sense is rare in modern conversation; students will mostly encounter it in 19th-century literature or formal poetry.

## Examples

- He was oblivious to the rain and kept reading his book.
- The driver seemed completely oblivious to the flashing lights in his rearview mirror until the siren started.
- While the rest of the world reacted with shock to the news, the small village remained largely oblivious, cut off from modern communication by the storm.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.