unconscious
adj. · n.-
1 not awake (adj.) B2 Upper Intermediate Medicinenot awake or aware of what is happening, usually because of an injury or illness.
lacking sensory awareness and responsiveness to the environment, typically resulting from physical trauma, anesthesia, or illness.
ExampleThe boxer was knocked unconscious for several minutes after the heavy blow.
ExampleParamedics found the driver unconscious at the wheel, though his vital signs remained stable despite the severity of the impact.
- insensible
- out cold
- comatose
-
2 without realizing (adj.) B2 Upper Intermediatedone or felt without you realizing it or thinking about it.
occurring without the agent's deliberate intention or conscious awareness.
ExampleShe had an unconscious habit of tapping her pen when she was nervous.
ExampleThe artist's work often reveals unconscious biases that reflect the social environment of her upbringing rather than her stated beliefs.
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3 the hidden mind (n.) C1 Advanced Academic Psychologythe part of your mind that contains feelings and thoughts you are not aware of.
the part of the psyche that is not available to introspection but influences behavior and emotions.
ExampleHe believed that dreams were a way to understand the unconscious.
ExampleFreudian theory suggests that many of our daily anxieties are rooted in the unconscious, shaped by early childhood experiences we no longer remember.
UsageUsually used with the definite article 'the'.
- conscious mind
From un- + conscious.