Definition of 'consciousness'

consciousness

(kɒnʃəsnəs )

Word forms: plural consciousnesses

1. countable noun [usually singular, usually poss NOUN]

Your consciousness is your mind and your thoughts.

That idea has been creeping into our consciousness for some time.

2. uncountable noun

The consciousness of a group of people is their set of ideas, attitudes, and beliefs.

The Greens were the catalysts of a necessary change in the European consciousness.

3. uncountable noun

You use consciousness to refer to an interest in and knowledge of a particular subject or idea.

Her political consciousness sprang from her upbringing.

Synonyms: awareness, understanding, knowledge, recognition More Synonyms of consciousness

4. uncountable noun

Consciousness is the state of being awake rather than being asleep or unconscious. If someone loses consciousness, they become unconscious, and if they regain consciousness, they become conscious after being unconscious.

She banged her head and lost consciousness.

He drifted in and out of consciousness.

Synonyms: sentience, awareness, sensibility More Synonyms of consciousness

5. See also stream of consciousness

Video: pronunciation of
consciousness

consciousness in American English

(ˈkɑnʃəsnɪs )

noun

the state of being conscious; awareness of one's own feelings, what is happening around one, etc.

the totality of one's thoughts, feelings, and impressions; conscious mind

consciousness in American English

(ˈkɑnʃəsnɪs)

noun

the state of being conscious; awareness of one's own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc

the thoughts and feelings, collectively, of an individual or of an aggregate of people

the moral consciousness of a nation

full activity of the mind and senses, as in waking life

to regain consciousness after fainting

awareness of something for what it is; internal knowledge

consciousness of wrongdoing

concern, interest, or acute awareness

class consciousness

the mental activity of which a person is aware as contrasted with unconscious mental processes

7. Philosophy

the mind or the mental faculties as characterized by thought, feelings, and volition

8. See raise one's consciousness

Word origin

[1625–35; conscious + -ness]

Examples of 'consciousness' in a sentence
consciousness

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She failed to regain consciousness after the surgery and died eight hours after giving birth.I'm not sure if he lost consciousness but he did lose a lot of blood.Her condition stabilised but she only regained full consciousness two weeks ago.He took off his oxygen mask while clinging on outside the plane and lost consciousness.Over the years their efforts helped raise the consciousness of many people.The onus is on our writers to augment our social and political consciousness.It is required reading for anyone interested in the nature of human consciousness.We go from collective consciousness to an age where we value individual freedom more than anything.He received treatment but failed to regain consciousness and died in the early hours of yesterday.He soon lost consciousness and a team of doctors were working on him.