conscious
KON-shuhs
Conscious (adj) means Awake and mentally alert, as opposed to unconscious or asleep. Example: “Stay conscious and keep talking to me until the ambulance arrives.”
adj
1
Awake and mentally alert, as opposed to unconscious or asleep.
"Stay conscious and keep talking to me until the ambulance arrives."
"He was barely conscious after the long night shift."
"The patient was conscious and talking within minutes of the accident."
2
Aware of and paying attention to something specific.
"Are you conscious of the time? The train leaves in ten minutes."
"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.
"Choosing to stay silent was a conscious choice, not an accident."
"I made a conscious effort to listen more carefully during meetings."
"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
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Word forms
- Plural
- consciouses
- Comparative
- more conscious
- Superlative
- most conscious
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Stay _____ and keep talking to me until the ambulance arrives.
Etymology
From Latin "conscius," meaning "aware, aware of guilt," from "con-" ("together") and "scire" ("to know").
Synonyms
View more →
awake
alert
cognizant
mindful
sentient
responsive
witting
intentional deliberate
voluntary
wilful
intentional
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for conscious
See all rhymes for conscious →Frequently asked questions
What does “conscious” mean?
The word “conscious” means awake and mentally alert, as opposed to unconscious or asleep. In plain terms, awake and aware, or deliberately and knowingly doing something.
How do you pronounce “conscious”?
“Conscious” is pronounced KON-shuhs (/ˈkɑn.ʃəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “conscious” in a sentence?
Here is “conscious” used in a sentence: “The patient was conscious and talking within minutes of the accident.”
What is another word for “conscious”?
Words with a similar meaning to “conscious” include intentional deliberate, voluntary, wilful and intentional.
What is the opposite of “conscious”?
The opposite of “conscious” — its antonyms — are asleep, unaware and unconscious.
What part of speech is “conscious”?
“Conscious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “conscious” come from?
The word “conscious” comes from Latin. From Latin "conscius," meaning "aware, aware of guilt," from "con-" ("together") and "scire" ("to know").
Is “conscious” a common word?
“Conscious” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between conscious and conscience?
Conscious is an adjective meaning awake and mentally alert, or aware of something. Conscience is a noun meaning the inner sense of right and wrong that guides behaviour; the two words are unrelated in meaning despite their similar spelling.
What is the difference between conscious and aware?
Conscious can mean simply being awake and alert, as opposed to unconscious or asleep, as well as being aware of something. Aware refers only to having knowledge or perception of something, so a patient can be conscious (awake) without being aware of every detail around them.
Is it spelled conscious or concious?
The correct spelling is conscious, with the letters s-c-i-o-u-s at the end. "Concious" is a common misspelling that omits the first s.
What preposition is used with conscious?
In the sense of being aware, conscious is normally followed by "of," as in "conscious of the risks" or "conscious of being watched." The related form self-conscious is often followed by "about," as in "self-conscious about her accent."
