consciousness

[ kon-shuhs-nis ]

/ ˈkɒn ʃəs nɪs /

Save This Word!

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.

QUIZ

GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!

Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.

Question 1 of 9

Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

Medical definitions for consciousness

consciousness

[ kŏn′shəs-nĭs ]

The state or condition of being conscious.

A sense of one's personal or collective identity, especially the complex of attitudes, beliefs, and sensitivities held by or considered characteristic of an individual or a group.

In psychoanalysis, the conscious.

consciousness

Idioms about consciousness

Origin of consciousness

OTHER WORDS FROM consciousness

Words nearby consciousness

Words related to consciousness

How to use consciousness in a sentence

Medical definitions for consciousness