consciousness

noun

con·​scious·​ness ˈkän(t)-shəs-nəs 

1

a

: the quality or state of being aware especially of something within oneself

b

: the state or fact of being conscious of an external object, state, or fact

c

: awareness

especially : concern for some social or political cause

The organization aims to raise the political consciousness of teenagers.

2

: the state of being characterized by sensation, emotion, volition, and thought : mind

3

: the totality of conscious states of an individual

4

: the normal state of conscious life

regained consciousness

5

: the upper level of mental life of which the person is aware as contrasted with unconscious processes

Synonyms

• advertence
• advertency
• attention
• awareness
• cognizance
• ear
• eye
• heed
• knowledge
• mindfulness
• note
• notice
• observance
• observation

Examples of consciousness in a Sentence

The medication caused her to enter an altered state of consciousness.

The events have become part of the national consciousness.

He hopes that he can raise public consciousness of the disease.

Recent Examples on the Web

Users added an increase of lean protein, meal replacements, and healthy snacks to complement their new health consciousness. —Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025

The class consciousness of the series is meant to put viewers on the side of the resort staff and other less-than-wealthy characters. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2025

Haunted Summerville: Ghostly Lights or Earthquake Lights? Cody Cottier is a contributing writer at Discover who loves exploring big questions about the universe and our home planet, the nature of consciousness, the ethical implications of science and more. —Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025

When your core temperature reaches 93, amnesia nibbles at your consciousness. —Outside Online, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see conscious entry 1

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing consciousness

• consciousness-raising
• hyper-consciousness
• lose consciousness
• regain consciousness
• social consciousness
• stream of consciousness
• unself-consciousness

Rhymes for consciousness

• unconsciousness

Kids Definition

consciousness

noun

con·​scious·​ness ˈkän-chəs-nəs 

1

: the condition of being conscious

2

: the normal state of conscious life in contrast to sleep or an insensible state

3

: the part of mental life that involves conscious thought and awareness

Medical Definition

consciousness

noun

con·​scious·​ness ˈkän-chə-snəs 

1

: the totality in psychology of sensations, perceptions, ideas, attitudes, and feelings of which an individual or a group is aware at any given time or within a given time span

altered states of consciousness, such as sleep, dreaming and hypnosis

—Bob Gaines

2

: waking life (as that to which one returns after sleep, trance, or fever) in which one's normal mental powers are present

the ether wore off and the patient regained consciousness

3

: the upper part of mental life of which the person is aware as contrasted with unconscious processes