awareness

noun

aware·​ness ə-ˈwer-nəs 

: the quality or state of being aware : knowledge and understanding that something is happening or exists

promoting a heightened awareness of the problem

seemed to have only a slight awareness of what was going on

an acute awareness of subtle differences

They hope to raise awareness of endangered species, encouraging donations and attracting tourists to the region to support conservation efforts.

—New Scientist

The alternative press played a particularly important role in raising political awareness and facilitating mobilization against the regime in South Africa …

—Larry Diamond

Synonyms of awareness

• attention
• mindfulness
• consciousness
• knowledge

Examples of awareness in a Sentence

while strolling in the big city, maintain an awareness of what's going on around you

Recent Examples on the Web

Nearly 300 Minnesota law enforcement agencies are participating in a campaign to bring awareness to how dangerous and deadly speeding can be. —Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026

Since retiring in 2022, Pujols continues to impact the game of baseball and, most recently, was named National Ambassador for Merck and the MLB's new Playing with Heart campaign, focusing on raising awareness around high cholesterol and heart disease. —Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026

This fits a wider trend in modern warfare, where networked unmanned systems are key for battlefield awareness and precise targeting. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 May 2026

Many of Kiser's fans left supportive comments on her TikTok, lauding her for her strength and cheering her on for helping to bring awareness to an important issue. —Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 1 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing awareness

• hyper-awareness
• self-awareness

Rhymes for awareness

• unawareness
• bareness
• fairness
• squareness
• unfairness