awareness
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of awareness
Explanation
Awareness is the state of knowing something, such as the awareness that the sun comes up every morning. The adjective aware gets turned into a noun when the suffix -ness is added, so awareness is the state of being aware, or having knowledge of something. Its roots are Germanic, and come from the Old English wær meaning "wary, cautious." Awareness can be something you notice, want to tell others about, or already know. You could "raise awareness" of a cause, like fighting breast cancer. Yet, your awareness of the baby sleeping next door might prevent you from having band practice in the garage. Smart move.
Vocabulary lists containing awareness
Legend
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Schooled
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Earth Day
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Support collapsed after a partial core meltdown in 1979 at the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania led to several days of panic, heightening awareness of potential safety risks.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
This reflects investors’ awareness that the market for computer memory components has been cyclical over the long term.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described him as "a true giant in journalism" who is now "helping others feel less alone and raising awareness of a condition that affects so many families".
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
His current best theory is that it’s generated by quantum processes, suggesting that awareness exists on a continuous spectrum across all matter rather than remaining the exclusive domain of mammalian brains.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026
The hazmats seem to have an awareness of everything that happens in the lab, but it is unclear whether they know that Journey and I talk to one another.
From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
