subconsciously

[ suhb-kon-shuhs-lee ]

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.

Other Words From

• non·sub·con·scious·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of subconsciously¹

subconscious ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

“It’s hard to beat somebody twice because kids subconsciously are saying in the back of their mind, ‘We’re better,’ where the others are saying, ‘We have something to prove.’

From Los Angeles Times

But also people — all of us, women included — subconsciously judge women more harshly than men.

From Salon

But he says the issue “subconsciously” crept into the art.

From BBC

A halo effect occurs, and you then subconsciously believe that everything about the product – including its reviews – is better.

From Salon

Like every other way we embed gender norms in children, subconsciously favoring your sons over your daughters in money talk can not only leave girls less prepared for money management but also set them up as adults to believe they’re less competent with money than the men in their lives.

From Salon