beware

/biˈwɛɚ/

beware means to use caution, pay attention to (used both with and without of).

beware is pronounced /biˈwɛɚ/.

Etymology

From Middle English bewar, be war, be ware, forms of Middle English ben ware (“to be on one's guard, be vigilant”, literally “be ware”), equivalent to be + ware or be + aware. Compare Old English bewarian.

verb

To use caution, pay attention to (used both with and without of).e.g.“Behold, I send an Angel before thee[…]. Beware of him, and obey his voice.” — 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 23:20-21:

Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Words closest in meaning

By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.

beward 59% match — To guard about or completely; protect. vs beware →
caution 58% match — Prudence when faced with, or when expecting to face, danger; care taken in order to avoid risk or harm. vs beware →
careful 58% match — Taking care; attentive to potential danger, error or harm; cautious. vs beware →
caveat 58% match — A warning. vs beware →
cautionary 56% match — Serving to caution or warn; admonitory vs beware →
wareful 56% match — wary; watchful; cautious vs beware →
awarn 56% match — To warn. vs beware →
warely 56% match — Watchfully; with caution. vs beware →