Definition of consciousness
1a : the quality or state of being aware especially of something within oneselfb : the state or fact of being conscious of an external object, state, or factc : 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
From the M-W Editors
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 of consciousness from the Web
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At 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, elements of the outdoors are infused into each room, with every detail meticulously engineered to meet the highest standards of eco-consciousness, right down to the hemp-blend mattresses and organic sheets.
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Cokefair added after people pulled the child out, the child regained consciousness and was coughing up water.
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On Saturday morning, an 8-year-old Connecticut girl who had regained consciousness after a strangulation attempt by her mother discovered her mom’s dead body in another room in the home, Fairfield police tell PEOPLE.
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Recent research is expanding our understanding—and yielding insights into consciousness itself.
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If shopping in America had a collective consciousness, Sears was its centerpiece.
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Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson talked up how brands can help raise social consciousness by highlighting different types of people and lifestyles.
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But, starting in the 1970s, the word retreated from the public consciousness.
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Jazz & Social Justice Artists and songs of protest, hope, resistance, and social consciousness from throughout history to the present day.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'consciousness.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of consciousness
see 1conscious
Other Psychology Terms
CONSCIOUSNESS Defined for English Language Learners
consciousness
playDefinition of consciousness for English Language Learners
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: the condition of being conscious : the normal state of being awake and able to understand what is happening around you
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: a person's mind and thoughts
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: knowledge that is shared by a group of people
CONSCIOUSNESS Defined for Kids
consciousness
playDefinition of consciousness for Students
1 : the condition of being mentally awake and active Following surgery, she slowly regained consciousness.
2 : the part of the mind involving thought and awareness The memory is preserved in my consciousness.
3 : knowledge of something specified News reports raised consciousness of the problem.
Medical Dictionary
consciousness
playMedical Definition of consciousness
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 hypnosis—Bob 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
Learn More about consciousness
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for consciousness Spanish Central: Translation of consciousness Nglish: Translation of consciousness for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of consciousness for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about consciousness
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