awareness

American  

[uh-wair-nis] / əˈwɛər nɪs /

noun

1. the state or condition of being aware; having knowledge; consciousness.

   The object of the information drive is to raise awareness of what spreads HIV/AIDS.

---

Other Word Forms

• hyperawareness noun
• overawareness noun
• self-awareness noun

Etymology

Origin of awareness

aware + -ness

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.

Example Sentences

“When we do see them, it brings a heightened level of awareness because of the potential danger that it causes.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2026

Aramco is probably gauging return on investment “using indicators such as awareness of the company name, reputation of the company, how the brand Saudi Arabia has improved,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

While those people can save in IRAs, many fail to do so for reasons like a lack of awareness or difficulty committing to saving.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

All say awareness is vital so that those who may not realise they have OCD can go and seek help.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

If something is happening outside of awareness, how on earth do you fix it?

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• alertness
• appreciation
• attention
• consciousness
• information
• perception
• realization
• recognition
• understanding