unawares

Unawares is an English adverb meaning without warning or unsuspectingly; it describes how something happens, typically to indicate surprise or lack of preparation. The most common construction is caught unawares, as in The security breach caught customers unawares. In modern usage the word is largely formal or literary; more common alternatives include unexpectedly or without warning.

As a separate sense, unawares can be considered archaic or literary when used as an adjective meaning unaware or not alert, though this usage is rare in contemporary speech.

Etymology and history: The form derives from the negating prefix un- attached to aware. The adverbial word unawares has long appeared in English, with prominent use in Early Modern English literature, and it retains a literary flavor in present-day prose and poetry.

Usage notes: Unawares is typically placed after the verb it modifies, especially in past-tense constructions (they were caught unawares). It is less common in everyday conversation, where clearer substitutes are often preferred. When choosing between unawares and synonyms, consider the register and the desired emphasis on surprise or immediacy.

See also: aware, unaware, catch off guard, surprise, unexpectedly.