consciousness

[ kon-shuhs-nis ]

/ ˈkɒn ʃəs nɪs /

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See synonyms for consciousness on Thesaurus.com

noun

the state of being conscious; awareness of one's own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc.

the thoughts and feelings, collectively, of an individual or of an aggregate of people: the moral consciousness of a nation.

full activity of the mind and senses, as in waking life:to regain consciousness after fainting.

awareness of something for what it is; internal knowledge: consciousness of wrongdoing.

concern, interest, or acute awareness: class consciousness.

the mental activity of which a person is aware as contrasted with unconscious mental processes.

Philosophy. the mind or the mental faculties as characterized by thought, feelings, and volition.

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Question 1 of 7

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about consciousness

raise one's consciousness, to increase one's awareness and understanding of one's own needs, behavior, attitudes, etc., especially as a member of a particular social or political group.

Origin of consciousness

First recorded in 1625–35; conscious + -ness

OTHER WORDS FROM consciousness

un·der·con·scious·ness, noun

Words nearby consciousness

conscientious objection, conscientious objector, conscionable, conscious, consciously, consciousness, consciousness-expanding, consciousness-raising, conscious uncoupling, conscribe, conscript

How to use consciousness in a sentence

QAnon, left unchecked for years, has tapped into the mainstream consciousness and is now involving people who may not even realize they’re being manipulated by QAnon-driven initiatives.
Facebook tries to clean up Groups with new policies|Sarah Perez|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
I’ve been defending this view on the grounds that it offers the best solution to the hard problem of consciousness.
The Universe Knows Right from Wrong - Issue 89: The Dark Side|Philip Goff|September 9, 2020|Nautilus
Lewis-Williams argues that altered states of consciousness were likely still important as a way of journeying between these different cosmic realms.
An Ancient Site with Human Skulls on Display - Issue 89: The Dark Side|Jo Marchant|September 2, 2020|Nautilus
Over the past decade, the NBA has increasingly been at the forefront of social consciousness among sports leagues.
Why A Strike For Racial Justice Started With The Milwaukee Bucks And The NBA|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|August 27, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

You open your eyes, come to your senses, and slide from dream state to consciousness.
The Global Work Crisis: Automation, the Case Against Jobs, and What to Do About It|Peter Xing|August 6, 2020|Singularity Hub
As soon as the criminal left the shop, the victim snapped back into consciousness and tried to chase after him.
Thief Hypnotizes Shopkeeper, Then Robs Him|Nico Hines|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However we strain to distract ourselves, our consciousness of death heightens our awareness of evil.
McConaughey’s ‘Stand’—And Ours|James Poulos|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, this has reduced consciousness of risk among young people, making the message of fear meaningless.
The New Face of HIV Is Gay & Young|Adebisi Alimi|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And, as a result, an interesting and important text has burst out of the archives and into public consciousness.
Jesus Christ, Baby Daddy?|Candida Moss|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Your acid experiences also seem to dovetail with expanding your musical consciousness.
Herbie Hancock Holds Forth|David Yaffe|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The controlling center of consciousness is the extreme limit of the nares anteri.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
A ray of Consciousness is passed over that impression and you re-read it, you re-awaken the record.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
Mine should be of pure steel; I have ordered her out of my consciousness these last weeks at the point of the bayonet.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
A trap-door had opened in the floor of his consciousness; his first, early love sheltered in his aching heart again.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
I watched over you till you recovered consciousness of your own accord, and now—now I am here to guide you safely back to the inn.
Three More John Silence Stories|Algernon Blackwood