Synonyms

consciousness

American

[kon-shuhs-nis] / ˈkɒn ʃəs nɪs /

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.

idioms

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mr. Weitz’s approach on “Can I Get a Pack” is deeply psychedelic, in that it seems designed to transform consciousness, but his mental trip is never of the blissed-out variety.

From The Wall Street Journal

“This marks not just the next chapter, but the next book in SpaceX and xAI’s mission: scaling to make a sentient sun to understand the Universe and extend the light of consciousness to the stars!”

From Barron's

“This marks not just the next chapter, but the next book in SpaceX and xAI’s mission: scaling to make a sentient sun to understand the universe and extend the light of consciousness to the stars!”

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023