Meaning & use
subconscious level
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
The part of your mind where thoughts and feelings exist without you being aware of them.
Grammar: Usually used with 'on a' or 'at a', e.g., 'on a subconscious level'. Countable, so you can say 'a subconscious level'.
Patterns
- on a subconscious level
- at a subconscious level
She realized that on a subconscious level, she was afraid of success.
Advertising often works on a subconscious level.
His decision was made at a subconscious level.
Word forms
| plural | subconscious levels |
|---|
Common combinations
- on a subconscious level
- He was attracted to her on a subconscious level.
- at a subconscious level
- The message was received at a subconscious level.
- operate on a subconscious level
- Many biases operate on a subconscious level.
- deep subconscious level
- The trauma affected him at a deep subconscious level.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unconsciously
- An adverb meaning without being aware; it describes the action, not the level.
- subconsciously
- Also an adverb, but focuses on the process rather than the level.
Opposites
Word family
- subconscious adjective
- Relating to thoughts you are not aware of.
- subconsciously adverb
- In a way that you are not aware of.
Commonly confused: subconscious level or unconscious?
subconscious level vs unconscious
Unconscious means not awake or not aware because of injury or sleep; subconscious refers to mental processes outside awareness.
Practice
Many of our fears exist ______.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'on a subconscious level'. 'In a subconscious level' is wrong because 'in' doesn't collocate with 'level' here. 'At subconscious level' is missing 'a', and 'by' is not used.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “subconscious level”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.