adj
conscious
KON-shuhs
adj
1
Awake and mentally alert, as opposed to unconscious or asleep.
"The patient was conscious and talking within minutes of the accident."
2
Aware of and paying attention to something specific.
"She's very conscious of how she comes across in meetings."
"He made a conscious effort to eat healthier this year."
3
Done deliberately and with full awareness.
"It was a conscious decision to leave her stable job for something riskier."
How to Use Conscious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAwake and aware, or deliberately and knowingly doing something.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "conscience," which is about morality, not awareness.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
conscious decision
conscious effort
fully conscious
Word Forms
more conscious comparative, consciouses plural, most conscious superlative
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The patient was _____ and talking within minutes of the accident.
Etymology
From Latin "conscius," meaning "aware, aware of guilt," from "con-" ("together") and "scire" ("to know").