aware implies vigilance in observing or alertness in drawing inferences from what one experiences.
aware of changes in climate
cognizant implies having special or certain knowledge as from firsthand sources.
not fully cognizant of the facts
conscious implies that one is focusing one's attention on something or is even preoccupied by it.
conscious that my heart was pounding
sensible implies direct or intuitive perceiving especially of intangibles or of emotional states or qualities.
sensible of a teacher's influence
alive adds to sensible the implication of acute sensitivity to something.
alive to the thrill of danger
awake implies that one has become alive to something and is on the alert.
a country always awake to the threat of invasion
Examples of aware in a Sentence
Are you aware how important you are to me?
She is one of the most aware people I know.
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With a fully healthy roster for only the sixth time this season, the Miami Heat still were made soberingly aware Monday night of the deficit against the league’s elite.—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2026 Officials advise travelers to stay aware of their surroundings, follow local guidance and keep up with the latest alerts through official State Department channels.—Josh Rivera, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026 Investigators said the suspect was aware of the victim's age and allegedly requested and received inappropriate photographs.—Richard Ramos, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026 Local police agencies are aware of Saturday’s protests and have safety measures in place.—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aware
Word History
Etymology
Middle English iwar, iwarre, going back to Old English gewær, going back to West Germanic *gawaro- (whence Old Saxon & Old High German giwar "cognizant"), from *ga-, perfective, associative and collective prefix + Germanic *waro- "cognizant, watchful" — more at com-, ware entry 1
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of aware was
before the 12th century