adj.
Pronunciation: ə - ' wer
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English iwar, from Old English gewær, from ge- (associative prefix) + wær wary ― more at CO- , WARY
Date: before 12th century
1 archaic : WATCHFUL , WARY
2 : having or showing realization, perception, or knowledge
– aware · ness noun
synonyms AWARE , COGNIZANT , CONSCIOUS , SENSIBLE , ALIVE , AWAKE mean having knowledge of something. AWARE implies vigilance in observing or alertness in drawing inferences from what one experiences < aware of changes in climate>. COGNIZANT implies having special or certain knowledge as from firsthand sources <not fully cognizant of the facts>. CONSCIOUS implies that one is focusing one's attention on something or is even preoccupied by it < conscious that my heart was pounding>. SENSIBLE implies direct or intuitive perceiving especially of intangibles or of emotional states or qualities < sensible of a teacher's influence>. ALIVE adds to SENSIBLE the implication of acute sensitivity to something < alive to the thrill of danger>. AWAKE implies that one has become alive to something and is on the alert <a country always awake to the threat of invasion>.