B2adjective1K

Conscious

UK /["/ˈkɒnʃəs/"]/US /["/ˈkɑːnʃəs/"]/

Definition

aware of something; noticing something

In simple words: Being aware of and able to think about your thoughts and surroundings.

Examples

He became more conscious of his surroundings after the accident.
She is very conscious about her health and diet.
During meditation, he felt conscious of his thoughts and feelings.
The movement aimed to make people more conscious of environmental issues.
After the fall, she was conscious but unable to move.
They were not conscious of the time passing while they were studying.
It's important to be conscious of your spending habits.
He was conscious of the fact that he needed to improve his skills.

Usage notes

Use 'conscious' when discussing awareness or alertness. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. Avoid using it in a purely emotional sense where 'aware' might be better suited.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Sounds like 'con-scious' — think of a conscious person being a 'con' to their own thoughts.

Collocations

be
seem
become
extremely
fairly
very
of
be
become
remain
completely
fully
barely

Synonyms

aware
alert
mindful
cognizant
sensitive

Antonyms

unconscious
ignorant
unaware

Common mistakes

Confused with 'conscience' which refers to moral awareness.
Using in the wrong context, such as 'I'm conscious of the movie.' instead of 'I'm aware of the movie.'
Confusing with 'unconscious' which means not awake or not aware.