beware
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Usage
What does beware mean? Beware means be careful or cautious—watch out for danger or other bad stuff.Beware is a command (or at least a suggestion). Sometimes, it’s used by itself, as in Beware! There are dark forces afoot! More commonly, it’s immediately followed by the specific thing you should beware of, as in Beware the words of politicians. Perhaps most commonly, it’s paired with the word of, such as on a sign that says Beware of cat. (You thought we were going to say Beware of dog, didn’t you? Stay alert, folks. Beware a wily dictionary.)Example: Before you enter the internet, there should be a sign that says “Beware of trolls.”
Etymology
Origin of beware
1150–1200; Middle English, from phrase of warning be ware. See be, ware 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The IRS’s criminal-investigation wing routinely tells tax filers to beware of preparers who promise big refunds or take a cut of their clients’ refunds as payment.
From MarketWatch
"So, AI should beware - for this week's predictions I've been gazing at where his hut used to be and thinking 'what would Albert do?'"
From BBC
But investors beware: The race to increase production risks creating an eventual glut of hardware and a painful crash.
From Barron's
Just beware that it’s quite possible a practical gift can backfire.
From MarketWatch
Just beware that the IRS could throw a flag later.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
