unawares
adverb/ˌʌnəˈweəz/
/ˌʌnəˈwerz/
- when not expected
- The camera had caught her unawares.
- The announcement took me unawares.
- She came upon him unawares when he was searching her room.
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- (formal) without noticing or realizing
- He slipped unawares into sleep.
Word Originmid 16th cent.: from unaware + -s.
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unawares