unconsciously
Americanadverb
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unintentionally and without realizing what one is doing.
Unconsciously, almost in spite of herself, she sighed.
-
at a level below that of conscious thought.
Children are unconsciously influenced by the appearance and personalities of their parents to choose partners who resemble them.
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without any awareness, sensation, or cognition at all.
As her mind drifted into a cloud of darkness and she lost all feeling, her body unconsciously fought the force of gravity pushing against it.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unconsciously
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How does unconsciously compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
When you do something unconsciously, you're not completely aware that you're doing it. You might not realize you've been unconsciously chewing your fingernails until you notice your nibbled nail polish. The adverb unconsciously comes from unconscious, which is often used to mean "not awake" but was originally defined as "unaware," from a Latin root meaning "be aware." So whenever you do something without being fully aware of it, you're doing it unconsciously. This could be anything from unconsciously peppering your speech with "uh" and "um" to unconsciously twirling your hair when you're concentrating on something.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some of them spit saliva on you unconsciously, especially if you are seated not far from them, and they are a nuisance in terms of noise and saliva.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
Viewers submit themselves to the rising interpersonal temperatures, unconsciously counting the minutes, waiting for the moment someone inevitably mentions the proverbial heat.
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
He worried that knowing the expected value might unconsciously influence his analysis.
From Science Daily ● May 18, 2026
I had been unconsciously asking him to choose, over and over, between the people he loved and the person he loved.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
Horace was by inclination a private man, nearing fifty now, with a sprawling port-wine stain on the left side of his forehead that he often fingered unconsciously.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
