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.
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To help become more aware, psychotherapist and executive coach Babita Spinelli suggests trigger mapping.—Danielle Winston, Flow Space, 24 Nov. 2025 Greenland finds itself at the center of a geostrategic race for the Arctic, and its politicians are newly aware of their leverage.—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025 Gather your financial documents Even for couples who stay married, both spouses should be aware of their assets and liabilities on a regular basis.—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 24 Nov. 2025 People have to be careful and be aware of it.—Big Think, 24 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for aware
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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