Taken Unawares

B2 8+

Pronunciation: /ˈteɪkən ʌnəˈwɛrz/

Definitions of taken unawares

verb Taken is the past participle form of the verb 'take', which means to grasp, hold, or seize.

Example Sentences

A1 She was taken unawares by the surprise birthday party.

A2 The hiker was taken unawares by the sudden thunderstorm.

B1 The company was taken unawares by the competitor's new product launch.

B2 The detective was taken unawares by the criminal's unexpected confession.

C1 The government was taken unawares by the sudden outbreak of civil unrest.

C2 The experienced negotiator was taken unawares by the rookie's clever tactics.

adverb Unawares is an adverb that means without being aware of or prepared for something.

Example Sentences

A1 She was taken unawares by the sudden noise.

A2 The cat was taken unawares by the dog's barking.

B1 The team was taken unawares by the opposing team's new strategy.

B2 The politician was taken unawares by the unexpected question from the journalist.

C1 The experienced detective was rarely taken unawares during investigations.

C2 The CEO was taken unawares by the sudden resignation of their top executive.

Examples of taken unawares in a Sentence

formal The soldiers were taken unawares by the sudden attack from the enemy.

informal I was taken unawares when my friends threw me a surprise party.

slang The prankster jumped out from behind the door, taking everyone unawares.

figurative Her unexpected resignation took the company unawares, leaving them scrambling to find a replacement.

Grammatical Forms of taken unawares

past tense

taken unawares

plural

taken unawares

comparative

more taken unawares

superlative

most taken unawares

present tense

take unawares

future tense

will take unawares

perfect tense

have taken unawares

continuous tense

taking unawares

singular

taken unawares

positive degree

taken unawares

infinitive

to take unawares

gerund

taking unawares

participle

taken unawares

Origin and Evolution of taken unawares

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Middle English
Story behind the word: The phrase 'taken unawares' originated in Middle English.
Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe being caught off guard or surprised, the phrase 'taken unawares' has evolved to signify being caught without prior knowledge or preparation.