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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Some consciousness researchers believe that on high doses of DMT, perception takes on this kind of curvy geometry. Oshan Jarow, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024 In severe cases, this can cause loss of consciousness. Michael Menna, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2024 Conspiracy theories around voting machines spread by former President Trump and his allies have seeped into public consciousness in ways that could undermine trust in results. Margaret Talev, Axios, 2 Nov. 2024 The report published Thursday comes from an unusual quarter: specialists in the frontier field of animal consciousness, several of whom were signatories of the New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness. Julia Shapero, The Hill, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for consciousness 

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 14 Nov. 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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