consciously

American  

[kon-shuhs-lee] / ˈkɒn ʃəs li /

adverb

1. with knowledge or awareness of one's own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc..

   Negative attitudes can be reinforced, both consciously and unconsciously, by teachers, parents, and peers.

   At any moment we probably aren't consciously aware of most of the sounds around us.

2. with clear intent; deliberately.

   The need to consciously make time for exercise is a relatively recent phenomenon.

3. in a way that is sustainable, or with awareness of one’s effect on the environment, society, etc..

   Shop locally and consciously, and support a business that supports our community.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonconsciously
  adverb
• quasi-consciously
  adverb
• half-consciously
  adverb
• overconsciously
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of consciously

conscious ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

When you do something consciously, you do it on purpose, after thinking seriously about it. A kindergarten teacher might consciously choose a soothing book to calm his class down at story time. If you do something instinctively or automatically, you're not consciously choosing to do it — it's just happening. On the other hand, if you consciously invite only friends who get along with each other to your party, you've done it in a thoughtful, intentional way. The adverb consciously comes from conscious, "aware and awake," from the Latin conscius, "knowing or aware," which has a Greek root, syneidos, "to know."

Example Sentences

Consciously or not, the mix of gloomy atmosphere and melodic acumen on the track brings to mind the work of Kate Bush, whose own interpretation of Brontë’s tale was her first single.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

Consciously or unconsciously, KEXP’s moral move might have been an act of self-preservation, a reinvigorating blast of fresh air.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 29, 2022

Consciously or otherwise, Baudrillard was embroidering atop the things that Maher and Stockhausen had already said: We understood that the terrorists had done something daring and spectacular that had changed our relationship to reality.

From Salon • Sep. 11, 2021

Consciously or not, Albert eschews trendy terminology for the old school.

From Slate • Jun. 25, 2021

Consciously or unconsciously, it became more and more Audrey's aim to separate them, to play off the one against the other.

From Audrey Craven by Sinclair, May

Related Words

• knowingly
• pointedly
• purposely
• studiously
• voluntarily
• willfully