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situational awareness — The ability to perceive, understand, and anticipate what is happening around you in a given environment, especially in order to respond appropriately.

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: The ability to perceive, understand, and anticipate what is happening around you in a given environment, especially in order to respond appropriately.

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃənl əˈwɛrnəs/

Example Sentences

  • During the fire drill, students showed great situational awareness by quickly finding the nearest exit.
  • My cat has better situational awareness than me — she always knows when I'm about to open a can of tuna.
  • Pilots are trained to keep constant situational awareness in the cockpit.

situational awareness

NOUN

[/ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃənl əˈwɛrnəs/]

The ability to perceive, understand, and anticipate what is happening around you in a given environment, especially in order to respond appropriately.

The lifeguard's situational awareness spotted the struggling swimmer before anyone else noticed.
💡 Concept

The lifeguard's situational awareness spotted the struggling swimmer before anyone else noticed.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃənl əˈwɛrnəs/
🇬🇧 UK/ˌsɪtʃʊˈeɪʃənl əˈweənəs/

🌳Etymology

Rootsitu(ate)
Suffix--ational, -ness

Origin

From Latin 'situare' (to place, situation) combined with Old English 'gewær' (watchful, aware), literally meaning 'watchfulness about one's situation'.

Breakdown

situat(e) (place/position) + -ional (adj. suffix, 'relating to') + aware (conscious, watchful) + -ness (noun suffix, 'state of')

🎵Rhyme

preparedness
fairness
awareness

🔗Collocations

maintain situational awareness
develop situational awareness
lack situational awareness
loss of situational awareness
situational awareness training
improve situational awareness
poor situational awareness

📝Examples

“During the fire drill, students showed great situational awareness by quickly finding the nearest exit.”

😄 Fun example

“My cat has better situational awareness than me — she always knows when I'm about to open a can of tuna.”

“Pilots are trained to keep constant situational awareness in the cockpit.”

😄 Fun example

“He lost situational awareness while texting and walked straight into a glass door.”

📚Related Words

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