oblivious Hear it!

oblivious Definition

ob·livi·ous (ə blivē əs)

adjective

    1. forgetful: usually with of
    2. unaware or indifferent: usually with of or, esp., to
  1. causing forgetfulness

Etymology: ME obliuyous < L obliviosus < oblivio; see oblivion

oblivious Related Forms
ob·livi·ously adverb ob·livi·ous·ness noun
oblivious Synonyms

oblivious

modif.

abstracted, preoccupied, inattentive, absent-minded, absorbed, absent, heedless, distracted, forgetful, unmindful, forgetting, unrecognizing, unnoticing, blundering, unobservant, unconscious, unaware, overlooking, stargazing, woolgathering, spaced out*, spacey*; see also absent-minded, dreamy 1.

Antonyms observant*, attentive, mindful.

oblivious Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • fact: They seem completely oblivious of the fact that they are copying verbatim what has now become all too familiar a trick?
  • danger: Captivated, he leans out of the trench to try to catch it, oblivious of the ever-present danger.
  • everything: My life was turned upside down, I had reached a point of being oblivious of everything going on around me.
  • effect: He is oblivious of the negative effect his obsession is having on his own home life.
  • excitement: And apparently oblivious of the excitement, Tennessee's Partner improved the opportunity to mop his face again with his handkerchief.
  • other: But each had cherished the moment secretly - each oblivious of the others ' feelings.

Modifying Another Word

  • seemingly: The brothers were now seemingly oblivious of the villains ' presence.
  • totally: You know the person who's walking down the street, totally oblivious to the fact they have bird muck on their shoulder?
  • utterly: The contestants were, at least, vintage Countdown material - studious, resolute, utterly oblivious to the camera.
  • apparently: Apparently oblivious to the obvious contradiction, the parents hired a lawyer to argue their case in court!
  • completely: They are often completely oblivious to the chaos they are causing behind them.
  • largely: For a whole host of reasons, the public remains largely oblivious to local government.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: The public seemed oblivious to the dangers of low flying aircraft.
  • appear: There can never be peace without justice, but Bush appears oblivious to this truth.
  • remain: For a whole host of reasons, the public remains largely oblivious to local government.
  • become: We were also interested in the way in the interior world of the terrorists and hostages became so oblivious to the world outside.
  • continue: These fleeting glimpses of the world around show normal lives continuing oblivious to the nuclear threat.
  • work: I was happily working away quietly oblivious to it all.

Modifies a noun

  • people: What I find remarkable is how oblivious people can be to these acts of nature going on right in their midst.
  • tae: They seemed oblivious tae the commotion; ah suppose they're used tae it, or mibbe meditatin really does make ye laid back.

Browse dictionary entries near oblivious

  1. oblivion
  2. obliterated
  3. obliterate
  4. obliquity
  5. obliquely
  6. oblique angle
  7. oblique
  8. obligor
  9. obligingly
  10. obliging
  1. obliviously
  2. oblong
  3. obloquy
  4. obnoxious
  5. obnoxiously
  6. obnubilate
  7. oboe
  8. obolus
  9. obovate
  10. obovoid