Conscious: meaning, definitions and examples

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conscious

[ˈkɒnʃəs ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

awareness

Aware of and responding to one's surroundings; awake.

Synonyms

awake, aware, sensible.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
conscious	Used when someone is fully alert, not asleep or in a coma. It can also mean being aware of certain facts or feelings. She was conscious after the surgery. He is very conscious of his social status.
aware	Indicates having knowledge or perception of a situation or fact. She wasn't aware of the changes in the schedule. He became aware of someone following him.
awake	Refers simply to not being asleep. Can be used in both literal and figurative sense. I stayed awake all night studying. She was awake to the dangers of the journey.
sensible	Typically refers to someone who makes decisions based on logic and reason. It often implies practicality and good judgment. It is sensible to carry an umbrella when the forecast predicts rain. She was always very sensible with her money.

Examples of usage

I was conscious of a faint smell of burning.
She had been conscious of the boy's presence from the first.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

intentional

Done by someone intentionally or mindfully.

Synonyms

deliberate, intentional, on purpose.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
conscious	Refers to someone being aware of and able to think and notice things. Used when someone is aware, awake, or considering something carefully. She was conscious of the fact that everyone was watching her. He was still conscious after the accident.
intentional	Refers to something done on purpose, with a clear aim or goal in mind. Often used when discussing actions with a specific intent. Her actions were intentional, not accidental. He made an intentional effort to improve his grades.
deliberate	Implies something done with careful thought or intention. Often used to describe actions that are done slowly and with purpose. His movements were slow and deliberate. The committee made a deliberate decision to review the policy.
on purpose	Informal way to say that something was done intentionally. Typically used in everyday conversation. Did you break this on purpose? I spilled the water on purpose to get her attention.

Examples of usage

A conscious effort to walk quietly.
She made a conscious decision to change her career.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

psychology

The state of being aware of and able to think about what is happening.

Synonyms

awareness, cognition, perception.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
conscious	Used when referring to the state of being aware of and able to think about one's surroundings, wakefulness, and the ability to respond to stimuli. She was conscious after the accident, but seemed very confused. I'm conscious of the fact that he may feel hurt by my comments.
awareness	Used in situations involving knowledge, understanding, or realization of the existence of something. Often used in contexts such as social issues, personal growth, or mindfulness. Awareness of climate change issues is growing among young people. She raised awareness about mental health during her speech.
perception	Used to describe the way someone interprets or understands something, often influenced by their experiences or beliefs. Can also refer to sensory experiences. His perception of the event was very different from mine. The artist played with light and shadow to change the viewer's perception.
cognition	Used in scientific, psychological, or educational contexts to describe mental processes like thinking, remembering, learning, and understanding. Studies on cognition help us understand how the brain processes information. Her research focuses on the cognitive development of children.

Examples of usage

She was slowly regaining consciousness after the accident.
He lost consciousness for a few minutes.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from Latin 'conscius', meaning 'aware' or 'knowing'.
It originally combined 'con-' (together) with 'scire' (to know), implying shared knowledge or awareness.
In the late Middle Ages, it began to describe a state of self-awareness, particularly related to thought and feelings.

Psychology

Consciousness is often divided into states, like waking, dreaming, and altered states—each affecting how we perceive the world.
The study of consciousness encompasses debates on whether humans are conscious of their thoughts or if many decisions are made subconsciously.
The concept of dualism by philosopher René Descartes suggests that consciousness is separate from the body, raising questions about the mind-body relationship.

Philosophy

Philosophers like John Locke argued that consciousness shapes personal identity, meaning you're the same person only if you share consistent memories.
In existential philosophy, consciousness is linked to freedom and responsibility, stressing that being aware means we must make choices.
The idea of the 'bicameral mind', proposed by Julian Jaynes, suggests early humans may not have been conscious as we understand it today, relying instead on auditory hallucinations.

Pop Culture

In movies like 'Inception', consciousness is explored in layers, showing how complex and multifaceted our awareness can be.
The term 'collective consciousness' has influenced many social movements, emphasizing shared beliefs and attitudes in society.
Music and literature often tackle themes of consciousness, exploring existential questions, like life and purpose, resonating with audiences.

Science

Neuroscientific studies often utilize technology to map brain activity, aiming to identify which brain regions correlate with conscious awareness.
Experiments on animals and humans suggest that different levels of consciousness can exist, like in sleep, anesthesia, or coma.
Quantum consciousness theories propose that consciousness arises from quantum processes in the brain, a field still under exploration.

Translations

Translations of the word "conscious" in other languages:

🇵🇹 consciente

🇮🇳 सचेत

🇩🇪 bewusst

🇮🇩 sadar

🇺🇦 свідомий

🇵🇱 świadomy

🇯🇵 意識している (いしきしている)

🇫🇷 conscient

🇪🇸 consciente

🇹🇷 bilinçli

🇰🇷 의식하고 있는

🇸🇦 واعي

🇨🇿 vědomý

🇸🇰 vedomý

🇨🇳 有意识的 (yǒu yìshí de)

🇸🇮 zavesten

🇮🇸 meðvitaður

🇰🇿 саналы

🇬🇪 ცნობიერი

🇦🇿 şüurlu

🇲🇽 consciente

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,976, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.

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2974 transformation
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2976 conscious
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2978 nervous
2979 possessed
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