wary
gb/wˈɛɹi/ us/wˈɛɹi/
B2
English
~ 9700
óvatos, bizalmatlan
B2
1
óvatos
A2
Usage pattern:
to be wary of [something/doing something]
Investors are increasingly wary of putting money into risky startups.
A befektetők egyre óvatosabban fektetnek pénzt kockázatos startupokba.
She was wary of walking home alone after midnight.
Óvakodott attól, hogy éjfél után egyedül menjen haza.
The cat is wary of strangers and hides under the bed when guests arrive.
Drivers should be especially wary of black ice on the roads this morning.
He gave a wary look at the offer, unsure if there was a hidden catch.
Learner examples
You should be wary of emails that ask for your bank details.
Óvatosnak kell lenned az olyan e-mailekkel, amelyek a banki adataidat kérik.
I am wary of buying things from unknown websites.
Óvatos vagyok, ha ismeretlen weboldalakról vásárolok.
The child is wary of big dogs.
Tourists are often wary of walking in that area at night.
Be wary of people who promise you quick and easy money.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "wary" with "weary". "Wary" means careful or cautious because you expect danger; "weary" means very tired. Another common mistake is using the wrong preposition: it is natural to say "wary of" (not usually *"wary from" or *"wary about" in standard use).
Meaning
carefully alert to danger or problems
Collocations
be wary of
|naturally wary
|wary approach
|remain wary
|wary consumer
|wary response
Synonyms
cautious (Very close in meaning; slightly broader and more neutral, without always implying a specific suspected danger.)
|
alert (Emphasizes being ready to notice danger, not always the careful or hesitant feeling that 'wary' has.)
Antonyms
careless (Describes not taking enough care or not thinking about possible danger, the opposite attitude of being wary.)
|
trusting (Suggests easily believing or accepting without doubt, while 'wary' holds back because of possible risk.)
Themes
emotions
|safety
|communication
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Careful and watching closely because you think something bad might happen.
Cautious and on guard because you think something might be dangerous, problematic, or harmful.
B2
2
bizalmatlan
B1
Usage pattern:
to be wary of [someone/something]
After being lied to once, she is now very wary of him.
Miután egyszer hazudott neki, most már nagyon bizalmatlan vele szemben.
Voters have become wary of politicians who make big promises before elections.
A választók bizalmatlanná váltak a választások előtt nagy ígéreteket tevő politikusokkal szemben.
The company is wary of working with partners it does not know well.
He sounded friendly, but I was still wary of giving him my personal information.
Communities that have been hurt before are understandably wary of new development plans.
Learner examples
She is wary of her new boss because he shouts a lot.
Bizalmatlan az új főnökével szemben, mert sokat kiabál.
People are often wary of strangers who come to their door.
Az emberek gyakran bizalmatlanok azokkal az idegenekkel szemben, akik becsöngetnek hozzájuk.
I am wary of online reviews because some of them are fake.
They are wary of the new manager after the last one treated them badly.
The public is wary of companies that collect too much personal data.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "wary" where "worried" or "afraid" would be more natural. "Wary" focuses on not trusting and being careful, not simply feeling fear. Also, remember the usual pattern is "wary of [someone/something]", not *"wary to" or *"wary with".
Meaning
not fully trusting; slightly suspicious
Collocations
wary of authority
|wary of strangers
|public is wary
|understandably wary
|remain wary of
|deeply wary
Synonyms
suspicious (Stronger and more negative, often suggesting you actively think something is wrong, while 'wary' can be milder and more about careful doubt.)
|
guarded (Focuses on holding back your feelings or opinions; 'wary' focuses on the cautious lack of trust.)
Antonyms
trustful (Readily trusting others, the opposite of the doubting attitude in 'wary'.)
|
open (Willing to share and accept others without much protective distance, unlike the defensive feeling of being wary.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not ready to trust someone or something because you think they may not be good or honest.
Not completely trusting someone or something, often because of past experiences or signs that they may be dishonest or harmful.
Grammar
Dictionary form
wary
IPA
GB/wˈɛɹi/
US/wˈɛɹi/
Syllables & stress
wary (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (wary)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: wary
- Comparative: warier
- Superlative: wariest
Word family
Forms
warier
adjective
wariest
adjective
Core family
warily
adverb
wariness
noun
Related words
beware
verb B1
Negative and opposite forms
unwary
adjective
unwarily
adverb
Expressions
be wary of
1/bˈi wˈɛɹi əv/
fixed phrase
be careful and cautious about
to be careful about someone or something because you think it might be dangerous, bad, or dishonest
Examples
- Be wary of websites that ask for your password or credit card number.
- You should be wary of making big decisions when you are very tired.
keep a wary eye on
1/kˈip ə wˈɛɹi ˈaɪ ˈɔn/
idiom
watch closely for possible trouble
to watch someone or something carefully because you think there may be a problem or danger
Examples
- The teacher kept a wary eye on the two students who had argued earlier.
- They kept a wary eye on the weather, ready to cancel the trip if the storm grew stronger.