beware: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Warning/Literary
Quick answer
What does “beware” mean?
To be cautious, wary, or on guard against danger or trouble.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To be cautious, wary, or on guard against danger or trouble.
Used as a warning or to advise caution, often implying a potential threat that requires attention.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in form and meaning. Slight preference in UK English for the standalone imperative 'Beware!' on warning signs.
Connotations
Both varieties associate it with formal warnings, proverbs, and literary contexts.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, reserved for specific cautionary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “beware” in a Sentence
Beware (of) + NPBeware + that-clause (rare)Beware + wh-clauseBeware!Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “beware” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Beware of pickpockets in crowded areas.
- I would beware investing all your capital there.
- Walkers were told to beware of falling rocks.
American English
- Beware of scams offering too-good-to-be-true returns.
- You should beware that the terms are subject to change.
- Beware the slippery steps when it rains.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in formal warnings about risks, e.g., 'Investors should beware of volatile markets.'
Academic
Rare; appears in literary analysis or historical texts discussing cautionary tales.
Everyday
Most common in set phrases like 'Beware of the dog' or as a heightened warning.
Technical
Virtually unused in technical registers.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beware”
- *You must to beware (incorrect infinitive). Correct: 'You must beware'.
- *He bewares of scams (incorrect conjugation). Correct: 'He should beware of scams'.
- Using 'beware' without 'of' before a noun can sound archaic or poetic: 'Beware the dog' vs. the more standard 'Beware of the dog'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Beware' is a defective verb. It has no standard past tense or third-person singular form. Use it in the infinitive ('must beware') or imperative ('Beware!').
Not always, but it is the most common modern pattern before a noun. Omitting 'of' ('Beware the dog') is more literary, poetic, or archaic.
It is classified as a verb, specifically a defective/modal-like verb used almost exclusively to give warnings.
It is formal and dramatic. In everyday speech, people more often say 'be careful', 'watch out', or 'look out'.
To be cautious, wary, or on guard against danger or trouble.
Beware: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈweə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈwer/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Let the buyer beware (caveat emptor)”
- “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts”
- “Beware the Ides of March”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BE + WARE (like 'aware') = Be aware of danger.
Conceptual Metaphor
DANGER IS A HIDDEN PREDATOR (requiring vigilance).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a grammatically correct use of 'beware'?