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
Examples of aware in a Sentence
Are you aware how important you are to me?
She is one of the most aware people I know.
Recent Examples on the WebDoing this series, it’s made me if anything more aware of how much was destroyed, what was going on culturally at that time, the artists and architects and filmmakers at the time who had to go into exile.—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 June 2024 Moffo said officers had been made aware that the vehicle was involved in an incident involving shots that were fired in Hartford earlier in the day.—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2024 For those who aren’t aware, Fred and I did our first collaboration back in 2016 for the Angelic 2 the Core album.—Liza Lentini, SPIN, 24 June 2024 Additionally, the governments are only aware of pilgrims who have registered and travelled to Mecca as part of their country’s quota – more deaths are feared among unregistered pilgrims.—Zahid Mahmood, CNN, 23 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for aware
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aware.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English iwar, iwarre, going back to Old English gewær, going back to West Germanic *gawaro- (whence Old Saxon & Old High German giwar "cognizant"), from *ga-, perfective, associative and collective prefix + Germanic *waro- "cognizant, watchful" — more at com-, ware entry 1
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of aware was
before the 12th century
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