awareness

English

Etymology

From aware +‎ -ness.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /əˈwɛɚ.nəs/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /əˈwɛə.nəs/
• Hyphenation: aware‧ness

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ɛə(ɹ)nəs

Noun

awareness (usually uncountable, plural awarenesses)

1. The state or level of consciousness where sense data can be confirmed by an observer.

   I gradually passed from sleep to full awareness.

   • Consciousness definition

     The state of being conscious or aware; awareness.

   • Observer definition

     One who makes observations, monitors or takes notice (1 of 6 observer definitions)
2. The state or quality of being aware of something.

   The awareness of one type of idea naturally fosters an awareness of another idea

   raise awareness of a topic

   • 1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light:Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, page 8:

     Like a mind moving on a Möbius strip of events, one's consciousness goes over the same territory again and again without ever becoming aware of the nature of awareness.

   • Aware definition

     Vigilant or on one's guard against danger or difficulty. (1 of 2 aware definitions)

Synonyms

• (state of consciousness): consciousness, wakefulness
• (state of being aware of something): knowledge, consciousness

Derived terms

Translations