Is conscious the same as aware?

Very close, but conscious is often used more formally. Aware is more common in everyday speech.

Does conscious mean awake?

Yes. Doctors often use it to mean not unconscious or not asleep.

What is the difference between conscious and conscience?

Conscious is about awareness. Conscience is your sense of right and wrong.

← Dictionary

conscious

/ˈkɒn.ʃəs/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

Aware of what is happening around you or in your own mind. It can also mean awake, not sleeping.

She was conscious of the noise outside.
He was conscious during the entire test.
Try to stay conscious of your body posture.

Adinary Nuance

Conscious is about awareness, not just intelligence or memory. It is closer to 'aware' than to 'careful' or 'deliberate'. In formal writing, it can also mean 'awake', as in 'conscious after the surgery'.

In other languages

Vietnamese: có ý thức
Spanish: consciente
Chinese: 有意识的
Japanese: 意識のある
Korean: 의식 있는

Etymology

Conscious comes from Latin conscientia, meaning 'knowledge within' or 'shared knowledge'. It entered English in the 1600s through French and Latin.

Common phrases

conscious ofconscious effortconscious decisionconscious mind

Synonyms

aware awake alert

Frequently asked questions

Is conscious the same as aware?: Very close, but conscious is often used more formally. Aware is more common in everyday speech.
Does conscious mean awake?: Yes. Doctors often use it to mean not unconscious or not asleep.
What is the difference between conscious and conscience?: Conscious is about awareness. Conscience is your sense of right and wrong.