The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word SENSED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
S
E
N
S
E
D
More clues leading to the result SENSED
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Became aware of" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case became aware of = sensed.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SENSED mean?
SENSED verb- To use biological senses: to either see, hear, smell, taste, or feel.
- To instinctively be aware.
- To comprehend.
- (in combination) Having a specified number or kind of senses.