sub·con·scious
ˌsəb-ˈkän(t)-shəs 
ˈsəb-
: existing in the mind but not immediately available to consciousness
a subconscious motive
subconsciousness
noun
: the mental activities just below the threshold of consciousness
Examples of subconscious in a Sentence
Noun
A person's behavior can be influenced by urges that exist only in the subconscious.
Those feelings had been hidden in her subconscious.
Recent Examples on the Web
Usa Today, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
The soundtrack here is an important counterpoint to the visual impact, transporting the viewer into a subconscious state that connects them with their deepest emotions and life memories.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2025
The student in question would become flustered and exposed, providing an opening for their subconscious to emerge.
—Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subconscious
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Adjective
Does the subconscious chatter feel louder than usual?
—Usa Today, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
The soundtrack here is an important counterpoint to the visual impact, transporting the viewer into a subconscious state that connects them with their deepest emotions and life memories.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
These funny, terrifying stories (and the funny, terrifying illustrations, by Maurice Sendak, that accompany them in this edition) are a direct route to the collective subconscious.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2025
The student in question would become flustered and exposed, providing an opening for their subconscious to emerge.
—Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subconscious
Cite this Entry
“Subconscious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subconscious. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
subconscious
1 of 2 adjective
sub·con·scious
ˌsəb-ˈkän-chəs
ˈsəb-
: existing in the mind but not immediately available to consciousness
a subconscious motive
subconsciously
adverb
subconscious
2 of 2 noun
: the mental activities just below the limit of consciousness
Medical Definition
subconscious
1 of 2 adjective
sub·con·scious
ˌsəb-ˈkän-chəs, ˈsəb-
1
: existing in the mind but not immediately available to consciousness : affecting thought, feeling, and behavior without entering awareness
subconscious motives
a subconscious reflex
2
: imperfectly conscious : partially but not fully aware
the persistence of subconscious dream activity for several minutes after waking—Psychological Abstracts
Psychological Abstracts
subconsciously
adverb
subconsciousness
noun
subconscious
2 of 2 noun
: the mental activities just below the threshold of consciousness
also
: the aspect of the mind concerned with such activities compare unconscious
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