awareness
Americannoun
Other Word 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.
Later that same day, Epstein responded, “I would argue that there is no awareness or consciousness there is only chemistry.”
From Salon • May 19, 2026
The research team says greater awareness of colorectal cancer symptoms could help improve earlier detection.
From Science Daily • May 15, 2026
Despite more knowledge and awareness of the effects of pollution, the presence of nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants has reduced both in the long-term and in recent years.
From BBC • May 13, 2026
As awareness increased in recent years, the demand for bioidentical estrogen and the transdermal patch as the preferred delivery system has gone up.
From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026
Sudden awareness of what he was holding, of what lived behind the little golden doors, hit Harry as he spoke.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
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.
