Meaning & use
conscious choice
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Meanings
phrasecountable
A decision made deliberately and with full awareness, rather than by accident or habit.
Grammar: Countable; often used with 'a' or in the plural: 'a conscious choice', 'conscious choices'.
Patterns
- make a conscious choice
- a conscious choice to do something
- a conscious choice between something and something
Leaving her job was a conscious choice, not something she was forced into.
He made a conscious choice to spend less time on his phone.
The company's move to remote work was a conscious choice to cut costs.
phrasecountabletechnical
A decision that you are aware of making, as opposed to an automatic or unconscious one.
Grammar: Often contrasts with 'unconscious' or 'automatic' in psychology texts.
Patterns
- a conscious choice rather than an automatic one
- make a conscious choice about something
Psychologists study whether our daily habits are conscious choices or automatic reactions.
Choosing to be kind can be a conscious choice, even when you are tired.
Common combinations
- make a conscious choice
- She made a conscious choice to forgive him.
- a conscious choice to do something
- His conscious choice to study abroad changed his life.
- a conscious choice between
- It was a conscious choice between saving money and traveling.
- a deliberate choice
- The wording was a deliberate choice, not a mistake.
Synonyms and how they differ
- deliberate choice
- Very close in meaning; 'deliberate' stresses careful thought, while 'conscious' stresses awareness.
- intentional decision
- Similar, but 'intentional' focuses on purpose rather than awareness.
Opposites
Word family
- consciously adverb
- In a way that you are aware of; deliberately.
- consciousness noun
- The state of being awake and aware of your surroundings.
Commonly confused: conscious choice or conscience?
conscious choice vs conscience
A noun meaning your inner sense of right and wrong. 'Conscious' means aware; 'conscience' is the moral sense.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'conscious choice' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase is followed by 'to' + infinitive: 'a conscious choice to move'. The other options use incorrect prepositions or verb forms.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “conscious choice”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.