instinct

CEFRB2

/ˈɪn.stɪŋkt/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A natural feeling that makes an animal or person act a certain way.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    An intuitive reaction not based on rational conscious thought.

Examples

  • In making a decision, I rely not on logic but on instinct.

  • It cannot plausibly be argued that behaviour of such complexity derives entirely from instinct.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Imbued, charged (with something).

  2. A natural or inherent impulse or behaviour.

More examples

In context

  • The instinct for survival is inherent in every living thing.

  • an instinct for order; to be modest by instinct

  • Debbie's instinct was to distrust John.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Migrating birds follow a natural blank that guides them thousands of miles.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Latin īnstīnctus, past participle of īnstinguō (“to incite, to instigate”), from in (“in, on”) + stinguō (“to prick”).