Oblivious
/əˈblɪviəs/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Oblivious describes a person or thing that does not see, hear, or understand what is happening nearby. It means being unaware of important facts, events, or feelings that others notice. Usually, it happens because the person is busy thinking about something else or simply not paying attention.
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See It in Action
Not aware of what is happening around you
- •She was oblivious to the noise outside because she was reading a book.
- •He walked past the broken glass, oblivious to the danger.
- •The driver was oblivious to the red light and caused an accident.
Not noticing feelings or reactions of others
- •He was oblivious to her sadness during the conversation.
- •They were oblivious to how their words hurt their friend.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'oblivious' like 'not knowing,' but stronger—like you don’t even realize something is happening around you
- ✓Picture someone walking on the street looking at their phone and not seeing a dog running nearby
- ✓It’s the feeling when you are so deep in thought that you don’t hear your name being called
- ✓Sounds like 'oh-BLIV-ee-us' → imagine someone 'blinking' and missing everything going on around them
- ✓Think of a character in a movie who is so focused on their own world they miss obvious signs of trouble
- ✓NOT like 'ignorant' (which means not having knowledge by choice or lack of learning)—'oblivious' is more about not noticing in the moment
- ✓NOT like 'careless' (which means not caring)—'oblivious' means you don’t see or realize, not that you don’t care
- ✓NOT like 'aware' (which means knowing and noticing)—'oblivious' is the opposite, being unaware or blind to something
Try Other Words
- •Ignorant: not knowing facts or information (Use when someone lacks knowledge, not just momentary awareness)
- •Unaware: not knowing about something (Use when the person simply does not have information)
- •Absent-minded: forgetful or distracted (Use when someone forgets things because their mind is elsewhere)
- •Blind: not seeing or understanding something obvious (Use figuratively when someone ignores or misses something clear)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: 'ob-' (towards, completely) + 'livious' (from Latin 'oblivisci' meaning to forget)
- •Etymology: From Latin 'obliviosus,' meaning forgetful or tending to forget
- •Historical development: Originally meant to forget or be forgetful, now means not aware or not noticing
- •Modern usage: Describes people or situations where someone does not notice or realize something important around them
Reflect & Connect
•Can being oblivious sometimes help people avoid stress or worry? When might that be good or bad?
•How does being oblivious affect communication between people? Can it cause misunderstandings?
Fill in the blanks
1.She was oblivious ___ the loud music playing outside because she was focused on her homework.
2.Being oblivious to someone's feelings can ___ hurt relationships.
3.He was oblivious ___ the warning signs that the road was slippery.
4.When someone is oblivious, they often ___ notice important details that others see.
5.The character in the story was oblivious ___ the danger coming towards them.
6.Unlike careful drivers, an oblivious driver might ___ traffic signals.
7.People who are oblivious ___ their surroundings may sometimes put themselves in danger.