Meaning & use
consciously
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
In a way that shows you are aware of what you are doing or thinking.
Grammar: Goes before a verb or adjective: consciously choose.
Patterns
- consciously do something
She consciously slowed her breathing to calm down.
He had never consciously considered leaving.
I consciously avoid checking my phone at dinner.
adverbnot comparable
On purpose, after thinking about it.
Grammar: Used about choices and actions that are intended.
Patterns
- consciously decide
- consciously choose
She consciously decided to speak up at the meeting.
The company consciously chose a simple design.
He consciously ignored the rumors.
Common combinations
- consciously decide
- I consciously decided to forgive him.
- consciously choose
- She consciously chose the quieter road.
- consciously aware
- He was consciously aware of the noise.
- consciously or unconsciously
- Consciously or unconsciously, we copy those around us.
- consciously avoid
- I consciously avoid sugary snacks.
Synonyms and how they differ
- deliberately
- Deliberately stresses intent and purpose, while consciously stresses awareness in the moment.
- knowingly
- Knowingly emphasizes having knowledge of the consequences, whereas consciously is about awareness of the act.
- intentionally
- Intentionally stresses planning and purpose, so it can describe acts done without much awareness.
- purposefully
- Purposefully implies a clear aim behind the action.
Opposites
Word family
- conscious adjective
- aware of something, or awake
- consciousness noun
- the state of being aware
- unconsciously adverb
- without awareness
- subconsciously adverb
- in a way that is below awareness
Commonly confused: consciously or conscientiously?
consciously vs conscientiously
Conscientiously means carefully and with a sense of duty, while consciously means with awareness.
Practice
He ___ chose a quieter seat so that he could think without noise.
Choose one answer.
Consciously means with awareness and on purpose. Conscientiously means carefully, and the other options are not adverbs.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “consciously”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.