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

Or perhaps he was subconsciously looking for a way to blow up his own carefully constructed life.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2026

By subconsciously mirroring even the subtlest twitches of expression and biological rhythms of other people, we can channel their thoughts and feelings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

He studied their individual tics and mannerisms to find the things that people across the world might only note subconsciously, and wove them into his caricatures.

From Salon • Sep. 5, 2025

"A lot of adaption occurs subconsciously and I'm there to provide feedback, making sure they are comfortable with what they are doing."

From BBC • Jul. 15, 2025

Sometimes she wondered if it was her horror of being married to someone she didn’t love that had caused her, subconsciously, to shut herself off.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri