awareness

noun

aware·​ness ə-ˈwer-nəs 

: the quality or state of being aware : knowledge and understanding that something is happening or exists

promoting a heightened awareness of the problem

seemed to have only a slight awareness of what was going on

an acute awareness of subtle differences

They hope to raise awareness of endangered species, encouraging donations and attracting tourists to the region to support conservation efforts.

—New Scientist

The alternative press played a particularly important role in raising political awareness and facilitating mobilization against the regime in South Africa …

—Larry Diamond

Synonyms of awareness

• attention
• mindfulness
• consciousness
• knowledge

Examples of awareness in a Sentence

while strolling in the big city, maintain an awareness of what's going on around you

Recent Examples on the Web

The nonprofit organization’s emphasis is on mental health awareness. —Staff Photographer, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026

Gukesh has a maturity that seems connected to his openness to instinctual play, and to his awareness of the depth and power of human feeling. —Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026

Coverage is the concern, with spotty zone awareness/spacing and the risk of being mismatched in man. —The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2026

The big takeaway is that the cremation rate may be artificially inflated because of limitations on awareness, availability and legal access to greener alternatives. —Tanya D. Marsh, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing awareness

• hyper-awareness
• self-awareness

Rhymes for awareness

• unawareness
• bareness
• fairness
• squareness
• unfairness