Unconsciously means doing something without realizing you're doing it. When you unconsciously tap your pencil during a test, your hand is moving but you're not thinking about it at all. Your mind is focused on the math problems while your fingers drum away on their own.

People do many things unconsciously throughout the day. You might unconsciously copy a friend's way of laughing, or unconsciously step back when someone stands too close. A nervous student might unconsciously bite their fingernails without noticing until someone points it out. Your brain handles countless small actions and reactions this way, freeing your conscious mind to focus on what matters most at any given moment.

The word is closely related to subconscious, which refers to the part of your mind working beneath your awareness. Scientists have discovered that your brain makes many decisions unconsciously before you're even aware you've decided anything. For instance, when catching a ball, you unconsciously calculate speed, distance, and trajectory without thinking through the math.

Being unconscious (without the -ly) means something different: being asleep, knocked out, or entirely unaware of your surroundings, like a patient under anesthesia during surgery.