conscious
gb/kˈɑnʃəs/ us/kˈɑnʃəs/
B1
English
~ 2700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
awake and aware
Awake and able to know what is happening around you.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is conscious
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'conscious' with 'conscience', which means a sense of right and wrong.
Synonyms
awake (Focuses on not sleeping, without necessarily implying full awareness.)
|
alert (Implies being ready to notice and react quickly.)
Antonyms
unconscious (Not awake or aware, especially due to injury or illness.)
Collocations
fully conscious
|remain conscious
|lose consciousness
|conscious patient
Themes
health
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The patient was conscious during the entire procedure.
- She was barely conscious after the accident.
- He regained consciousness a few minutes later.
- I was fully conscious of the noise outside.
- They kept him conscious until help arrived.
Learner examples
- The man is conscious after the fall.
- She is still conscious in the hospital.
- He is conscious and can talk.
- I am conscious of the people around me.
adjective
B1
property
2
aware of something
Knowing and thinking about something.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is conscious of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'conscious of' with 'concerned about', which has a stronger emotional tone.
Synonyms
aware (General term for knowing about something.)
|
mindful (Suggests careful attention to something.)
Antonyms
unaware (Not knowing about something.)
Collocations
conscious of danger
|conscious of time
|socially conscious
|politically conscious
Themes
thinking
|daily life
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She is very conscious of how she looks.
- He was conscious of the risks involved.
- I am conscious of the fact that time is short.
- They are politically conscious citizens.
Learner examples
- I am conscious of my mistakes.
- He is conscious of his health.
- She is conscious of the time.
- We are conscious of the rules.
adjective
B2
property
3
intentional or deliberate
Done on purpose, not by accident.
Usage pattern:
a conscious [decision/choice/effort]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'conscious' here with 'aware', but this sense focuses on intentionality rather than just knowledge.
Synonyms
deliberate (Stresses careful thought before acting.)
|
intentional (Focuses on the action being planned or meant.)
Antonyms
accidental (Happening by chance, without planning.)
Collocations
conscious decision
|conscious choice
|conscious effort
Themes
thinking
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It was a conscious choice to move abroad.
- She made a conscious effort to speak more slowly.
- His actions were a conscious attempt to help.
Learner examples
- I made a conscious choice to study English.
- She takes a conscious effort to eat healthy food.
- He made a conscious plan to save money.
Grammar
Dictionary form
conscious
IPA
GB/kˈɑnʃəs/
US/kˈɑnʃəs/
Syllables & stress
con - scious (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (con)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: conscious
Word family
Core family
consciousness
noun B1
consciously
adverb
Related words
subconscious
adjective C1
Negative and opposite forms
Expressions
self-conscious
1/sˈɛlf kˈɑnʃəs/
fixed phrase
uncomfortably aware of oneself
Feeling embarrassed or nervous because you think people are watching you.
Examples
- She felt self-conscious about her accent.
- He became self-conscious when everyone looked at him.
lose consciousness
1/lˈuz kˈɑnʃəsnəs/
fixed phrase
faint or pass out
To suddenly stop being awake and aware, often because of illness or injury.
Examples
- He lost consciousness after hitting his head.
- He lost consciousness after hitting his head on the pavement.
- She lost consciousness during the long run.
- She lost consciousness from dehydration during the marathon.
regain consciousness
1/ɹɪɡˈeɪn kˈɑnʃəsnəs/
fixed phrase
Become conscious again
To wake up and become aware again after you were unconscious or fainted.
Examples
- The patient regained consciousness in the ambulance.
- The patient regained consciousness after several hours.
- The patient regained consciousness two hours after the operation.
- He regained consciousness after a few minutes.
- He slowly regained consciousness following surgery.
- He fell from the ladder and did not regain consciousness until he was in the ambulance.
- She slowly regained consciousness as the effects of the drug wore off.