# introvert

Pronunciation: say "IN-truh-vurt" US /ˈɪn.tɹə.vɝt/, UK /ˈɪn.tɹə.vɜːt/

## Noun

1. A person whose energy and attention turn inward, who tends to be more thoughtful than outgoing and often prefers quiet time alone.
   - Simple: A person who feels more comfortable alone or in quiet places than in big groups.
   - _A classic introvert, he left the party early to enjoy some quiet at home._
   - _Long team meetings can drain introverts who prefer working independently._
2. A reserved person who keeps to themselves and does not readily express thoughts or feelings.
   - Simple: A quiet person who does not share thoughts or feelings very easily.
   - _A natural introvert, she rarely volunteered details about her personal life._
   - _The introverts on the team listened far more than they spoke during the retreat._
4. A body part or organ that can be turned inside out, especially the front section of certain worms that pulls back in.
   - Simple: A body part, like the front of some worms, that can be pulled inside out and back in.
   - _Biologists watched the worm extend its introvert to probe the sediment._
   - _The introverts of these annelids retract rapidly when the creatures are disturbed._

## Adjective

3. Alternative form of introverted. — Alternative form of introverted.
   - Simple: Alternative form of introverted. Means quiet and focused on your own thoughts.
   - _Her introvert temperament made the open-plan office exhausting._
   - _The introvert side of his character emerged after long social events._

## Verb

Pronunciation: say "in-troh-VURT" US /ˌɪn.tɹoʊˈvɝt/, UK /ˌɪn.tɹəʊˈvɜːt/

5. To direct one's thoughts inward, reflecting on internal or spiritual matters.
   - Simple: To think deeply about your own thoughts, feelings, or spiritual life.
   - _After the funeral, he began to introvert, dwelling on questions of meaning and faith._
   - _Monks introvert during long periods of silent retreat._
6. To draw an organ or body part back into itself or into its base.
   - Simple: To pull a body part inside itself or back into its base.
   - _The sea cucumber can introvert its tentacles the instant it is disturbed._
   - _These worms introvert the proboscis the moment a shadow passes overhead._

## Origin

This comes from New Latin intrōvertere, which combines intro- ("within") with vertere ("to turn"). Carl Jung's German works popularized it as a psychological term, and by surface analysis it breaks down into intro- + -vert.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/introvert (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).