Awareness means knowing that something exists or is happening. When you have awareness of something, you notice it and understand it's there.

If you're walking through the woods with awareness of your surroundings, you notice the birds singing, the trail markers, and maybe that tree root before you trip over it. A driver with good awareness watches for pedestrians, bicycles, and other cars. In class, awareness means you're actually paying attention to what's being taught instead of daydreaming about lunch.

The word also describes understanding bigger issues or problems. When people work to raise awareness about ocean pollution, they're helping others learn that the problem exists and why it matters. Someone might say a book raised their awareness of what life was like during the Great Depression, meaning they learned things they didn't know before.

You can also be aware of your own thoughts and feelings. If you notice that you get cranky when you're hungry, that's self-awareness. If you realize that you interrupted your friend three times in one conversation, that awareness might help you become a better listener.

Being aware is different from just seeing something. You might look right at a stop sign without really registering it, but when you're aware of it, you actually notice it and understand what it means.