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"OBLIVIOUS" Pronunciation: uh BLIV ee us Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like “large” or “late.” They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in “an oblivious girl.” 2. After a linking verb, as in "The girl was oblivious.”) Meaning:  When you're oblivious to something, you're completely unaware of it, or you've completely forgotten it. Other forms: Obliviously, obliviousness. "Oblivion" is slightly different: that usually means the state or process of being forgotten or dying away. How to use it: Talk about being oblivious to something or oblivious of something: "He's so oblivious to her crush on him," "We were oblivious of the problem until it got out of hand." You can leave out that phrase with the word "to" or "of" if it's clear what the person is oblivious to or if the person is just oblivious to everything: "Criticism bothers her, but I remain oblivious" and "We were so young, so self-centered, so oblivious." It's not just things in the present or things in the near future that you can be oblivious to: you can also be oblivious to things in the past, meaning you've totally forgotten about them. "Her lucky success kept her oblivious to the risks she had taken." You can get figurative and let an object, process, or place be oblivious, too: "The search tool remained oblivious to our frustrations with it." "That zero-tolerance policy is oblivious to even large differences in degree of wrongdoing." "The tiny town seemed oblivious to the passage of time." Please forgive me for being so oblivious to your struggle. I was wrapped up in my own troubles and should have noticed yours, too. With its scrolling marquee text, page counter, guest book, and frames (yes, frames,) that website is blissfully oblivious to the fact that it's 2015, not 1998. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "oblivious” means when you can explain it without saying “unmindful” or “unaware." Think of a time you ignored or overlooked something completely, either accidentally or purposefully, and fill in the blanks: "Because _____, I was oblivious to _____." Example: "Because I was so busy with our newborn baby those first few days, I was oblivious to the sad meows for attention from both of our kitties." Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don't go straight to the review now; let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words: This month's game content is protected by a copyright, so I can't reprint the trivia questions here--but check out the challenging, endlessly entertaining game; it's called Moot! A Point Well Made: Amelia Earhart: "The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity." 1. The opposite of OBLIVIOUS is A. SHARP B. AWARE C. EXPERT 2. Being oblivious to the needs of your customers means _____ A. you care more about them than the vision you have for your products. B. you will eventually fail unless you have no competitors and you provide something essential. C. you continue to design new ways to observe, survey, and analyze what it is they want. Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. B