instinct
2 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
instincts
plural
instincts
Britannica Dictionary definition of INSTINCT
1
a
:
a way of behaving, thinking, or feeling that is not learned
:
a natural desire or tendency that makes you want to act in a particular way
—
see also killer instinct
[count]
-
Our first instinct was to run.
-
Cats possess a natural hunting instinct.
-
Seeing the baby aroused all her maternal instincts.
[noncount]
-
The decision was based on (gut) instinct.
b
:
something you know without learning it or thinking about it
—
compare intuition
[count]
-
Her instincts told her that something was wrong. [=she believed that something was wrong even though there was no obvious reason to believe it]
-
You have to learn to trust/follow your instincts. [=to trust your feelings about what is right or true even when you cannot be sure that it is right or true]
-
He has been guided throughout his career by his political instincts.
[noncount]
-
Mere instinct alerted her to the danger.
-
He knew by instinct what not to say.
-
She seemed to know by instinct that something was wrong.
2
[count]
:
a natural ability
— often + for
— sometimes followed by to + verb
-
He has a strong survival instinct.
-
an athlete with good instincts
-
He has a strong instinct for survival.
-
She has a natural instinct for making the right decisions in her job.
-
a strong instinct to survive
