If you are oblivious to something or oblivious of it, you are not aware of it.
She lay motionless where she was, oblivious to pain. [+ to/of]
Llewelyn appeared oblivious of his surroundings.
Synonyms: unaware, unconscious, ignorant, regardless More Synonyms of oblivious
obliviouslyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
Burke was asleep, sprawled obliviously against the window.
obliviousnessuncountable noun
Her obliviousness of what was happening in Germany seems extraordinary. [+ of]
oblivious in British English
(əˈblɪvɪəs)
adjective
(foll byto or of)
unaware or forgetful
▶ USAGE It was formerly considered incorrect to use oblivious to mean unaware, but this use is now acceptable
Derived forms
obliviously (obˈliviously)
adverb
obliviousness (obˈliviousness)
noun
oblivious in American English
(əˈblɪviəs)
adjective
1.
a.
forgetful
usually with of
b.
unaware or indifferent
usually with of or, esp., to
2.
causing forgetfulness
Derived forms
obliviously (obˈliviously)
adverb
obliviousness (obˈliviousness)
noun
Word origin
ME obliuyous < L obliviosus < oblivio; see oblivion
Examples of 'oblivious' in a sentence
oblivious
There will be a backlash of which he appears to be oblivious.
The Sun (2008)
Some remained oblivious to the strike entirely.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They emerged unhurried and seemingly oblivious to the potentially lethal situation they had been in.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Yet ministers seem oblivious to these problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Is he wandering around the garden totally oblivious to this scene?
Christianity Today (2000)
Quite often the husband will be completely oblivious.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They seem oblivious to the catastrophic effects of their actions.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They also remain wilfully oblivious to the fact that the sovereignty they seek to uphold is a legal fiction.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The couple went over to see if they could help the man, who was unconscious and apparently oblivious to the loud music.
The Sun (2006)
He is genial, amiable, but apparently oblivious to danger.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Surprisingly, though, many people remain oblivious of the dangers from rivers and the sea.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
oblivious
British English: oblivious ADJECTIVE
If you are oblivious to something or oblivious of it, you are not aware of it.
She lay motionless where she was, oblivious to pain.
American English: oblivious
Brazilian Portuguese: indiferente
Chinese: 没意识到的
European Spanish: ajeno
French: inconscient
German: nicht bewusst
Italian: dimentico
Japanese: 気づかずに
Korean: 의식하지 못하는
European Portuguese: indiferente
Latin American Spanish: ajeno
Chinese translation of 'oblivious'
oblivious
(əˈblɪvɪəs)
adj
oblivious of or to sth忘却(卻)某事 (wàngquè mǒushì)
(adjective)
Definition
unaware or unconscious
She appeared oblivious to her surroundings.
Synonyms
unaware
She was unaware that she was being filmed.
unconscious
Mr Battersby was apparently quite unconscious of their presence.
ignorant
Many people are worryingly ignorant of the facts.
regardless
careless
He pleaded guilty to careless driving.
negligent
The jury ruled that the Council had acted in a negligent manner.
blind to
unaffected by
impervious to
forgetful
My mother has become very forgetful recently.
deaf to
unconcerned about
neglectful
Children who are neglected tend to become neglectful parents.
heedless
She scattered the letters about in her heedless haste.
inattentive
These children were more likely to be inattentive at school.
insensible
unmindful
unobservant
disregardful
incognizant
Opposites
aware
,
conscious
,
alert
,
attentive
,
mindful
,
watchful
,
observant
,
heedful
Usage note
It was formerly considered incorrect to use oblivious and unaware as synonyms, but this use is now acceptable. When employed with this meaning, oblivious should be followed either by to or of, to being much the commoner.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of careless
Definition
done or acting with insufficient attention
He pleaded guilty to careless driving.
Synonyms
slapdash,
irresponsible,
sloppy (informal),
cavalier,
offhand,
neglectful,
slipshod,
lackadaisical,
inattentive,
regardless
in the sense of forgetful
Definition
tending to forget
My mother has become very forgetful recently.
Synonyms
absent-minded,
vague,
careless,
neglectful,
oblivious,
lax,
negligent,
dreamy,
slapdash,
heedless,
slipshod,
inattentive,
unmindful,
apt to forget,
having a memory like a sieve
in the sense of heedless
Definition
taking no notice
She scattered the letters about in her heedless haste.
Synonyms
careless,
reckless,
negligent,
rash,
precipitate,
oblivious,
foolhardy,
thoughtless,
unthinking,
imprudent,
neglectful,
inattentive,
incautious,
unmindful,
unobservant
Nearby words of
oblivious
obliterate
obliteration
oblivion
oblivious
obloquy
obnoxious
obscene
Synonyms of 'oblivious'
oblivious
Explore 'oblivious' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ignorant
Definition
lacking in awareness or knowledge of
Many people are worryingly ignorant of the facts.
Synonyms
uninformed of,
unaware of,
oblivious to,
blind to,
innocent of,
in the dark about,
unconscious of,
unschooled in,
out of the loop of,
inexperienced of,
uninitiated about,
unknowing of,
unenlightened about,
unwitting of
in the sense of inattentive
Definition
not paying attention
These children were more likely to be inattentive at school.
Synonyms
preoccupied,
distracted,
careless,
negligent,
dreamy,
regardless,
vague,
thoughtless,
absent-minded,
slapdash,
neglectful,
heedless,
slipshod,
remiss (formal),
unmindful,
unobservant,
unheeding,
distrait,
ditzy or ditsy (slang)
in the sense of neglectful
Definition
not paying enough care or attention
Children who are neglected tend to become neglectful parents.
Synonyms
careless,
indifferent,
lax,
negligent,
uncaring,
thoughtless,
heedless,
inattentive,
remiss (formal),
unmindful,
disregardful
in the sense of negligent
The jury ruled that the Council had acted in a negligent manner.
Synonyms
careless,
regardless,
slack,
thoughtless,
inadvertent,
unthinking,
forgetful,
slapdash,
neglectful,
heedless,
slipshod,
inattentive,
remiss (formal),
unmindful,
disregardful
in the sense of unconscious
Definition
not aware of one's actions or behaviour
Mr Battersby was apparently quite unconscious of their presence.