consciousness

noun

con·​scious·​ness ˈkän(t)-shəs-nəs How to pronounce consciousness (audio)
1
a
: the quality or state of being aware especially of something within oneself
b
: the state or fact of being conscious of an external object, state, or fact
c
: awareness
especially : concern for some social or political cause
The organization aims to raise the political consciousness of teenagers.
2
: the state of being characterized by sensation, emotion, volition, and thought : mind
3
: the totality of conscious states of an individual
4
: the normal state of conscious life
regained consciousness
5
: the upper level of mental life of which the person is aware as contrasted with unconscious processes

Examples of consciousness in a Sentence

The medication caused her to enter an altered state of consciousness. The events have become part of the national consciousness. He hopes that he can raise public consciousness of the disease.
Recent Examples on the Web Public consciousness has not yet assimilated the point that technology is ideology. Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2024 The band’s debut album, Introduction, blasted into national consciousness in 1972 and made history as the first commercial Zamrock record. Tracy Kawalik, SPIN, 5 Mar. 2024 Paul’s sister Alia only appears as a fetus (albeit one awakened to universal consciousness) and briefly as a vision of her older self in a dream, portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy. Christian Holub, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2024 They’re also defined by Tupper’s cosmopolitan consciousness. Kyle Roderick, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Holzer’s work, which often injects words and ideas into our public consciousness via public installation, becomes tangible through her collaboration with Parley for the Oceans ($50). The Editors, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 After recovering from the convulsions and loss of consciousness, the person is usually fatigued and confused for several minutes to several hours. Jacob Pellinen, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2024 Thus, there can be no such thing as a purely abstract consciousness, completely distinct from the world it is embedded in. Karl Schroeder, IEEE Spectrum, 24 Feb. 2024 What Locke wanted for a new Black art was the same visibility that white art has always had in the public consciousness, in the market, in the history books. Holland Cotter, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'consciousness.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see conscious entry 1

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of consciousness was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near consciousness

Cite this Entry

“Consciousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consciousness. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

consciousness

noun
con·​scious·​ness ˈkän-chəs-nəs How to pronounce consciousness (audio)
1
: the condition of being conscious
2
: the normal state of conscious life in contrast to sleep or an insensible state
3
: the part of mental life that involves conscious thought and awareness

Medical Definition

consciousness

noun
con·​scious·​ness ˈkän-chə-snəs How to pronounce consciousness (audio)
1
: the totality in psychology of sensations, perceptions, ideas, attitudes, and feelings of which an individual or a group is aware at any given time or within a given time span
altered states of consciousness, such as sleep, dreaming and hypnosisBob Gaines
2
: waking life (as that to which one returns after sleep, trance, or fever) in which one's normal mental powers are present
the ether wore off and the patient regained consciousness
3
: the upper part of mental life of which the person is aware as contrasted with unconscious processes
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