unconsciousness
Britishnoun
Explanation
Unconsciousness is a state of being unaware of what's going on around you, either because you're not awake or because you're simply oblivious. If you fall asleep during a movie, and your unconsciousness means you'll miss the ending. Even if everyone in your family is mad at each other, your little cousin's unconsciousness of the argument might make it easier to have a peaceful Thanksgiving. And after the meal, the great quantities of food eaten may result in the unconsciousness of half the guests, who doze in the living room, snoring softly. In both kinds of unconsciousness, someone isn't conscious, or aware, of their surroundings.
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.
The experiments were conducted under one particular type of general anesthesia, so the findings cannot automatically be extended to other anesthetic methods or states of unconsciousness.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
According to a peer-reviewed study in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention, Waymo recorded 85 percent fewer crashes likely to cause serious injuries—like broken bones, unconsciousness, or skull fractures—compared to human drivers.
From Slate ● Jun. 10, 2025
According to the prosecutor's office, medical reports also suggested Payne may have fallen in a state of semi or total unconsciousness.
From BBC ● Dec. 25, 2024
“Are you happy with your life,” Jason 2 asks Jason 1 as he sends him into unconsciousness, “or have you ever wondered what else you could have been?”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 7, 2024
An hour later the pain began to fade; nearly weeping with gratitude I drifted into unconsciousness.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
