consciousness
noun
con·scious·ness
ˈkän(t)-shəs-nəs 
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
Synonyms
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
The Death Valley emergency response team typically gets about two or three heat illness calls per week in the summer, with visitors experiencing symptoms across the spectrum from mild fatigue to loss of consciousness.
—
Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2024
Butlin, Long, and 18 collaborators evaluated six of the most prominent computational functionalist theories of consciousness and came up with a list of consciousness indicator properties—properties that are necessary for consciousness to arise in humans.
—Lindsey Laughlin, Ars Technica, 10 July 2024
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include throat swelling, difficulty breathing, a sudden drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
Unlike traditional alcoholic drinks, mocktails focus on health consciousness and holistic wellness while providing the illusion of an actual cocktail.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 8 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for consciousness 
Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2024
Butlin, Long, and 18 collaborators evaluated six of the most prominent computational functionalist theories of consciousness and came up with a list of consciousness indicator properties—properties that are necessary for consciousness to arise in humans.
—Lindsey Laughlin, Ars Technica, 10 July 2024
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include throat swelling, difficulty breathing, a sudden drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
Unlike traditional alcoholic drinks, mocktails focus on health consciousness and holistic wellness while providing the illusion of an actual cocktail.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 8 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for consciousness
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Consciousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consciousness. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
consciousness
noun
con·scious·ness
ˈkän-chəs-nəs
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
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
Bob Gaines2
: 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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