consciousness

American  

[kon-shuhs-nis] / ˈkɒn ʃəs nɪs /

noun

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

2. the thoughts and feelings, collectively, of an individual or of an aggregate of people.

   the moral consciousness of a nation.

3. full activity of the mind and senses, as in waking life.

   to regain consciousness after fainting.

4. awareness of something for what it is; internal knowledge.

   consciousness of wrongdoing.

5. concern, interest, or acute awareness.

   class consciousness.

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

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

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idioms

1. 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.

Other Word Forms

• underconsciousness noun

Etymology

Origin of consciousness

First recorded in 1625–35; conscious + -ness

Example Sentences

That purpose could be the urge to compel people to surrender their individuality to a pooled consciousness, portrayed with frightening, infuriating effectiveness in this show and “Sinners.”

From Salon

Electricity eventually assimilated into the economy and our consciousness, outlets everywhere.

From The Wall Street Journal

It has also pushed K-pop further into the American consciousness, attracting some fans who, like Pine, had never dabbled in the genre before.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nathan started to feel the impact of hypothermia and began to lose consciousness on the ridge.

From BBC

If AI systems have subjective experiences, they won’t necessarily resemble human consciousness.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• alertness
• apprehension
• awareness
• recognition
• sensibility