con ‧ scious S2 W3 /ˈkɒnʃəs $ ˈkɑːn-/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ subconscious , ↑ unconscious , ↑ consciousness , ↑ unconsciousness ; adverb : ↑ subconsciously , ↑ consciously ≠ ↑ unconsciously ; adjective : ↑ conscious ≠ ↑ unconscious , ↑ subconscious ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: conscius , from com- ( ⇨ COM- ) + scire 'to know' ]
1 . AWARE [not before noun] noticing or realizing something SYN aware
conscious of (doing) something
I became conscious of someone watching me.
I was very conscious of the fact that I had to make a good impression.
conscious that
She was conscious that Marie was listening to every word.
2 . AWAKE awake and able to understand what is happening around you OPP unconscious :
The driver was still conscious when the ambulance arrived.
3 . conscious effort/decision/attempt etc an effort etc that is deliberate and intended:
Vivien had made a conscious effort to be friendly.
4 . CONCERNED thinking a lot about or concerned about something
politically/environmentally/socially etc conscious
environmentally conscious consumers
health-conscious/fashion-conscious etc
Many employers are becoming more safety-conscious.
conscious of
She was very conscious of security.
⇨ ↑ self-conscious
5 . THOUGHTS conscious thoughts, memories etc are ones which you know about ⇨ subconscious :
the conscious mind
Without conscious thought, she instinctively placed a hand on his arm.
It affects the audience at a deeper, less conscious level.
—consciously adverb :
She was probably not consciously aware of her true feelings.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 4)
■ adverbs
▪ socially/politically/environmentally etc conscious (=conscious of social/political etc issues)
We have all become more environmentally conscious.
■ NOUN + conscious
▪ health conscious
People are health conscious nowadays and careful about what they eat.
▪ fashion conscious
Young girls are always very fashion conscious.
▪ security conscious
Most airports are extremely security conscious.
▪ safety conscious
Workers are encouraged to be safety conscious.
▪ cost conscious
Companies keen to increase their profits have to be cost conscious.
▪ class conscious (=concerned about what class of society people come from)
In the past, people were much more class conscious.