🇬🇧 Wary meaning: English Vocabulary Flash Card

If you are wary, you are very careful and not completely trusting because you think something might be tricky, dangerous, or just not quite right. You pay close attention and don’t believe everything right away until you’re sure it’s safe or true.

I grew wary when Grandpa said he would cut my hair “just like they did in the army…in 1950.”

I became very wary of the cake after my cousin said, “Don’t worry, I only dropped it once.”

The teacher was wary when we all smiled at the same time; that usually means a prank is loading.

I was wary of my brother’s offer to “taste-test” my dessert, because last time he test‑tasted the whole thing.

Scientists say meerkats stand up and look around because they’re naturally wary of danger; I’m the same way, except I’m mostly wary of my alarm clock.

A girl sat on a park bench, wary of a stray dog. The dog edged closer, wary of sudden moves and wary of the hand. A man offered food, eyes wary of the dog, hand steady. The girl stayed wary but reached out. The dog sniffed, took the food, and they all sighed with quiet relief.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

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