unconscious
gb/ˌʌŋkˈɑnʃəs/ us/ˌʌŋkˈɑnʃəs/
B1
English
~ 3300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
state
1
Not awake or aware
Not awake and not knowing what is happening around you.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is unconscious
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'unconscious' with 'subconscious'. 'Unconscious' means not awake, while 'subconscious' refers to mental processes you are not aware of.
Synonyms
insensible (More formal and less common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
conscious (Means awake and aware of surroundings.)
Collocations
knock unconscious
|fall unconscious
|render unconscious
|lie unconscious
Themes
health
|emergencies
|daily life
|body
Examples
- The boxer was unconscious for several minutes after the knockout.
- She fainted and lay unconscious on the floor until help arrived.
- He was found unconscious in his car after the accident.
- The patient remained unconscious for two days following surgery.
Learner examples
- She is unconscious after the fall.
- He was unconscious for one hour.
- The man is unconscious on the ground.
- She became unconscious during the game.
adjective
B2
property
2
Done without awareness
Happening without you knowing or planning it.
Usage pattern:
an unconscious [action/reaction]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'unconscious' here with 'subconscious'. 'Unconscious' actions happen without awareness; 'subconscious' refers to mental activity below conscious awareness but can influence behavior.
Synonyms
involuntary (Focuses more on lack of control rather than lack of awareness.)
Antonyms
deliberate (Means done intentionally with awareness.)
Collocations
unconscious bias
|unconscious habit
|unconscious reaction
Themes
psychology
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He gave an unconscious smile when he saw her.
- Many people have an unconscious bias toward familiar faces.
- She made an unconscious gesture of reassurance.
Learner examples
- He made an unconscious move.
- She has an unconscious habit of biting her nails.
- He smiled in an unconscious way.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
3
Part of mind outside awareness
In psychology, the part of your mind that you do not know about but that affects how you think and act.
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'unconscious' here means 'asleep', but in psychology it refers to mental processes outside awareness.
Synonyms
subconscious ('Subconscious' is more common in everyday speech, though some psychologists distinguish between them.)
Collocations
the collective unconscious
|explore the unconscious
Themes
psychology
|science
|health
Examples
- Freud's theories placed great emphasis on the role of the unconscious.
- Dreams can be a window into the unconscious.
- Artists sometimes try to express their unconscious through their work.
Learner examples
- The book talks about the unconscious mind.
- Dreams come from the unconscious.
- The artist painted from his unconscious.
Grammar
Dictionary form
unconscious
IPA
GB/ˌʌŋkˈɑnʃəs/
US/ˌʌŋkˈɑnʃəs/
Syllables & stress
un - con - scious (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (con)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: unconscious
Noun
- Base: unconscious
- Plural: unconscious, unconsciouses
Word family
Forms
unconsciouses
noun
Core family
unconsciously
adverb B2
unconsciousness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
Related words
subconscious
adjective C1
subconsciously
adverb
Expressions
fall unconscious
1/fˈɔl ˌʌŋkˈɑnʃəs/
fixed phrase
Suddenly lose consciousness naturally or from illness
To suddenly stop being awake because you are sick, weak, or hurt.
Examples
- He fell unconscious after standing in the heat too long.
- She fell unconscious before the ambulance arrived.
knock someone unconscious
1/nˈɑk sˈʌmwˌʌn ˌʌŋkˈɑnʃəs/
fixed phrase
Cause someone to lose consciousness
To hit or injure someone so they are not awake and do not know what is happening around them.
Examples
- The blow to the head knocked him unconscious.
- She was knocked unconscious during the accident.
render someone unconscious
1/ɹˈɛndɚ sˈʌmwˌʌn ˌʌŋkˈɑnʃəs/
fixed phrase
formal
Cause someone to become unconscious
To make someone lose consciousness by hitting, injury, or other cause.
Examples
- The gas leak rendered two workers unconscious.
- The impact rendered her unconscious instantly.