subconscious

[ suhb-kon-shuhs ]

adjective

1. existing or operating in the mind beneath or beyond consciousness: Compare preconscious, unconscious.

   the subconscious self.

2. imperfectly or not wholly conscious:

   subconscious motivations.

noun

1. the totality of mental processes of which the individual is not aware; unreportable mental activities.

subconscious

/ sʌbˈkɒnʃəs /

adjective

1. acting or existing without one's awareness

   subconscious motive

noun

1. psychoanal that part of the mind which is on the fringe of consciousness and contains material of which it is possible to become aware by redirecting attention Compare preconscious unconscious

Derived Forms

• subˈconsciously, adverb
• subˈconsciousness, noun

Other Words From

• sub·con·scious·ly adverb
• sub·con·scious·ness noun
• non·sub·con·scious adjective
• non·sub·con·scious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of subconscious¹

First recorded in 1825–35; sub- + conscious

Example Sentences

Audiard explains, “There were two levels of reality. There’s Jessi in her bedroom, and then, very suddenly, we go elsewhere. The name that we had for this sequence among ourselves was Dark Ideas, i.e., Jessi’s Dark Ideas. You have this girl talking, and suddenly she goes into her subconscious, and her subconscious is wild and furious.”

From Los Angeles Times

My entire life and experiences shape my cooking, but this influence is more subconscious.

From Salon

Sean says he's recently rediscovered the original Tomb Raider soundtrack, which "holds an incredibly deep place within my subconscious from being a kid".

From BBC

I was born and raised in Los Angeles so I feel the lifestyle here that I’ve gravitated toward is already embedded with so many subconscious beauty rituals: working out, finding something to wear every other weekend.

From Los Angeles Times

He was from Los Angeles, and I can’t deny that some of the motivation for me applying to USC was a subconscious desire to trace his steps.

From Los Angeles Times