DictionaryAI

instinct

IN-stingkt/ˈɪn.stɪŋkt/

Pluralinstincts

3 meanings of instinct

Practice

  1. 1
    nouncountable or uncountable
    A natural urge that makes a person or animal act a certain way without being taught.

    Like pulling your hand back from something hot before you even decide to.

    A bird builds its nest by instinct, not because anyone showed it how.

    Babies cry by instinct when they are hungry.

    Similarintuition, impulse, urge, drive, nature

    Note
  2. 2
    nouncountable or uncountable
    A quick feeling about what to do that comes without stopping to think it through.

    Like a gut feeling that something is right or wrong before you can explain why.

    My instinct told me to leave the party early.

    Trust your instinct when you meet someone new.

    Similarintuition, impulse, hunch, feeling

    Oppositereason

    Note
  3. 3
    adjectivearchaic
    Filled with or full of something, such as a strong feeling or quality.

    Like a sponge that is completely full of water.

    The old painting was instinct with life and color.

    a noble performance, instinct with sound principle
    1838, Henry Brougham, Historical Sketches of Statesmen Who Flourished in the Time of George IIIHere, instinct with means full of.
    Note

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Origin

From Latin instinguo, meaning "to urge on," made from in ("in, on") plus stinguo ("to prick").