preconscious
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: /ˌpriːˈkɒnʃəs/
KK: /priˈkɒnʃəs/
adjective
Definition
Referring to thoughts or memories that are not currently in awareness but can be easily accessed or remembered.
Example
The therapist explored her preconscious thoughts to help her understand her feelings better.
Conversation
Have you ever thought about how much we forget things?
Yeah, it's surprising what can stay in our preconscious mind.
Exactly! Sometimes I remember stuff I didn't even realize I knew.
Right? It's like our brain has this hidden storage of memories.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
subconscious
latent
implicit
Antonyms
conscious
aware
explicit
noun
Definition
A part of the mind that contains thoughts and feelings that are not currently in awareness but can be easily brought to consciousness.
Example
The therapist helped the patient explore their preconscious thoughts to understand their behavior better.
Conversation
I was reading about the concept of the preconscious mind yesterday.
That sounds interesting! What did you learn?
It seems like the preconscious holds thoughts that can easily be brought into awareness.
Root Explanation
Preconscious → It is formed from "pre-" (meaning before) and "conscious" (from Latin "conscire", meaning to be aware). The word "preconscious" refers to thoughts or memories that are not currently in awareness but can be accessed with some effort, thus existing before full consciousness.
Memory Tip
Think of 'pre-' meaning 'before' and 'conscious' meaning 'aware' — so 'preconscious' refers to things that are 'before awareness'.
Visually Confused Words
paraconscious
foreconscious
conscious
supraconscious
superconscious
hyperconscious
unprecocious
semiconscious