Sentient refers to the capacity to perceive, feel, or experience sensations consciously. A sentient being is aware of its surroundings, experiences emotions, and responds to stimuli. In spiritual or paranormal contexts, the term is sometimes used to describe entities, such as spirits or other supernatural beings, that are believed to have conscious awareness and the ability to interact with the living world. Sentience is often a key trait associated with human beings, animals, and, in some beliefs, spirits or other entities.