reality; consciousness; waking state
Almost always used in the set phrase うつつを抜かす, meaning to be so absorbed in something that one loses touch with reality. Rarely used independently in modern Japanese.
He is so absorbed in video games that he's lost touch with reality.
Don't get too carried away with love and lose sight of what's important.
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially in the set phrase うつつを抜かす.
Archaic spelling with okurigana; rarely used in modern writing.
The historical derivation is uncertain. The kanji 現 is conventionally associated with the meaning 'reality' or 'present state'.