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instinct

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˈɪnstɪŋkt/

Forms: instincts

instinct means: A natural feeling or behavior that you are born with rather than learn.

noun

NATURAL DRIVEB2

A natural feeling or behavior that you are born with rather than learn.

  • Birds build nests by instinct.
  • Her protective instinct made her reach for the child.
  • The animal’s survival instinct kept it moving despite its injuries.

Similar words: drive, impulse

Common phrases: survival instinct, maternal instinct, natural instinct

INNER FEELINGB2

A feeling that tells you what to do or believe without carefully thinking about it.

  • My instinct told me to wait.
  • He trusted his instinct and turned back.
  • Do you have an instinct for choosing the right moment?

How to use it: instinct for something (She has an instinct for finding good stories.); instinct to do something (My first instinct was to call for help.)

Similar words: intuition, gut feeling, hunch

Common phrases: trust your instinct, first instinct, instinct for something

Questions about instinct

What does instinct mean?

A natural feeling or behavior that you are born with rather than learn.

What is instinct in other languages?

Türkçe: içgüdü · Español: instinto · Français: instinct · Deutsch: Instinkt · Italiano: istinto · 日本語: 本能

How do you pronounce instinct?

It is pronounced /ˈɪnstɪŋkt/.

How do you use instinct in a sentence?

Birds build nests by instinct. Her protective instinct made her reach for the child.

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instinct in other languages

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