beware

verb

be·​ware bi-ˈwer How to pronounce beware (audio)
bē-

intransitive

: to be on one's guard
beware of the dog

transitive

1
: to take care of
beware your wallet
2
: to be wary of
We must … beware the exceedingly tenuous generalization …Matthew Lipman

Examples of beware in a Sentence

A ghostly voice cried “Beware!”. He told them to beware. The restaurant's food is excellent, but beware the chili if you don't like spicy food.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But things change, and beware of Matsumoto, the pitcher. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026 But these tax-and-spend interests should beware. Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026 Amos has never taken half-measures in her music; dictators beware. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 Mar. 2026 But beware that exporting a document in a different format will irreversibly alter its formatting. Edward Mendelson, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beware

Word History

Etymology

Middle English been war, from been "to be" + war "cognizant, ware entry 1"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of beware was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beware. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

beware

verb
be·​ware bi-ˈwa(ə)r How to pronounce beware (audio)
-ˈwe(ə)r
1
: to be on one's guard
beware of the dog
2
: to be suspicious of
beware the quick excuse

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