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.
July 3 could bring shocks or surprises; just beware of being too risky or impulsive. Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026 There are also more nebulous items, including advice to beware of social engineering. Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 24 June 2026 For the most part, Ischia's towns are quite walkable, with many streets that have been pedestrianized or are part of limited-traffic zones, but beware of cars or scooters on narrow roads. Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2026 You may be tempted to make your way down to the beach at the bottom, but beware! Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 21 June 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 3 Jul. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on beware

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster