subconsciously

American  

[suhb-kon-shuhs-lee] / sʌbˈkɒn ʃəs li /

adverb

1. beneath or beyond the conscious mind.

   Your brain subconsciously processes a lot of the day’s information while you sleep.

2. without conscious understanding or desire.

   I grew up subconsciously internalizing the stereotypes I saw in movies, TV shows, and advertisements.

   I heard footsteps approaching behind me, and my pace quickened subconsciously.

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Other Word Forms

• nonsubconsciously
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of subconsciously

subconscious ( def. ) + -ly

Compare meaning

How does subconsciously compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• subconsciously vs. unconsciously

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

subconsciously

People may also subconsciously move less throughout the rest of the day after doing a workout, which means exercise may have less impact on their overall calorie deficit.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026

Nolan floats a convincing psychological reason why this Odysseus subconsciously believes his duplicitous actions during the war deserve permanent exile from civilization.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

Pacala rejected the concern that BP’s influence on their thinking might be subtle, stating that people who are subconsciously influenced in this way have “weak character.”

From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026

"Did I at best subconsciously treat Peter Mandelson differently because I believed him to have influence and power within the Labour party?" he said.

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

We begin to feel subconsciously that / is somehow more genteel than me, even in cases where me is the right choice—for instance, after a preposition.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner