oblivious
/əˈblɪ.vi.əs/
Group 24Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Not aware of or not concerned about what is happening around one GRE
Example in Context
The tourists wandered through the market oblivious to the significant historical events that had taken place on the very cobblestones beneath their feet.
Synonyms
unawarecluelessignorant
Etymology
Against awareness, completely unaware of the surroundings.
- ob- (Latin) — against
- livere (Latin) — to be aware
Memory Aid
🙈Sounds like “oblivious”
A person walking around with a BLINDfold while singing LOUDLY, completely OBLIVIOUS to the chaos around!
Visual Association
😴A person sleeping soundly in a crowded room, blissfully oblivious to the noise and chaos.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “oblivious” mean on the GRE?
oblivious (adjective) means “Not aware of or not concerned about what is happening around one”. The tourists wandered through the market oblivious to the significant historical events that had taken place on the very cobblestones beneath their feet.
How to remember “oblivious” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “oblivious” sounds like “oblivious”. A person walking around with a BLINDfold while singing LOUDLY, completely OBLIVIOUS to the chaos around!
What are synonyms for “oblivious”?
Common synonyms: unaware, clueless, ignorant.