subconscious
Americanadjective
-
existing or operating in the mind beneath or beyond consciousness.
the subconscious self.
-
imperfectly or not wholly conscious.
subconscious motivations.
noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of subconscious
Explanation
Subconscious describes something that is just below your awareness, like at a subconscious level hoping your friend's boyfriend breaks up with her — you didn't even realize you felt that way until it happened. If you are aware of something, you are conscious of it, like being conscious of your tendency to talk too much when you are nervous: you watch for it and try to control it. Most words that start with the prefix sub- are something “under” the root word: something subconscious is under or below your awareness. Maybe in time, it will surface — you might get to the root of why you get so nervous in the first place.
Vocabulary lists containing subconscious
Power Prefix: sub-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Latin Love, Vol I: sci
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Friday the 13th
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Evans says the gesture was a "an involuntary, subconscious twitch" that he was "unaware" of.
From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026
"When I play and I improvise, I don't think, because music comes from the subconscious, someplace else," Rollins told news site The Root.
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
The shift in attitude hasn’t been firmly diagrammed; instead, what’s going on here is mostly subconscious, like a collective unlocking of forbidden territory.
From Slate • Feb. 12, 2026
In addition to this spree of the subconscious, the artist offers glimpses of her creative process.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026
“Look how the cars are all veering away from the Manhattan exits, like they’re getting a subconscious message to turn back.”
From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan
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.
