Instinct is the natural tendency that a person or animal has to behave or react in a particular way.
I didn't have as strong a maternal instinct as some other mothers.
The basis for training relies on the dog's natural instinct to hunt and retrieve.
He always knew what time it was, as if by instinct.
Synonyms: natural inclination, feeling, urge, talent More Synonyms of instinct
2. countable noun [also N to-inf]
If you have an instinctfor something, you are naturally good at it or able to do it.
Farmers are increasingly losing touch with their instinct for managing the land. [+ for]
Irene is so incredibly musical and has a natural instinct to perform.
Synonyms: talent, skill, gift, capacity More Synonyms of instinct
3. variable noun [usually with poss, oft NOUN to-infinitive]
If it is your instinctto do something, you feel that it is right to do it.
I should've gone with my first instinct, which was not to do the interview.
Synonyms: intuition, feeling, impulse, gut feeling [informal] More Synonyms of instinct
4. variable noun [oft NOUN that]
Instinct is a feeling that you have that something is the case, rather than an opinion or idea based on facts.
There is scientific evidence to support our instinct that being surrounded by plantsis good for health.
He seems so honest and genuine and my every instinct says he's not.
instinct in British English
noun (ˈɪnstɪŋkt)
1.
the innate capacity of an animal to respond to a given stimulus in a relatively fixed way
2.
inborn intuitive power
3.
a natural and apparently innate aptitude
adjective (ɪnˈstɪŋkt)
4. rare(postpositive; often foll bywith)
a.
animated or impelled (by)
b.
imbued or infused (with)
Word origin
C15: from Latin instinctus roused, from instinguere to incite; compare instigate
instinct in American English
(ˈɪnˌstɪŋkt; for adj. ɪnˈstɪŋkt; ˈɪnˌstɪŋkt)
noun
1.
(an) inborn tendency to behave in a way characteristic of a species; natural, unlearned, predictable response to stimuli
suckling is an instinct in mammals
2.
a natural or acquired tendency, aptitude, or talent; bent; knack; gift
an instinct for doing the right thing
3. Psychoanalysis
a primal psychic force or drive, as fear, love, or anger; specif., in Freudian analysis, either the life instinct (Eros) or the death instinct (Thanatos)
adjective
4.
filled or charged (with)
a look instinct with pity
Derived forms
instinctual (inˈstinctual) (ɪnˈstɪŋktʃuəl)
adjective
Word origin
< L instinctus, pp. of instinguere, to impel, instigate < in-, in + *stinguere, to prick: for IE base see stick
COBUILD Collocations
instinct
animal instinct
attacking instinct
competitive instinct
hunting instinct
protective instinct
Examples of 'instinct' in a sentence
instinct
His natural instincts are to think about what is the next reform we should be doing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My gut instinct is that we need to rediscover certain things that politicians are understandably reluctant to talk about.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Her first instinct is to come clean to Dan.
The Sun (2016)
I simply cannot switch off my competitive instincts.
The Sun (2016)
I rejoice in the fact that gut instinct can still conquer computers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The football brain still is though, the natural instinct to score and assist was on display for all to see here.
The Sun (2016)
He has a good instinct for scoring in and around the box.
The Sun (2012)
The most natural human instinct in the face of peril is to fly.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We all have the same instincts as animals.
The Sun (2014)
They say you make your own luck in football because the top strikers always back their instincts.
The Sun (2007)
Your instincts are already telling you which they are.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He will need to show that he can be more secure defensively without sacrificing his attacking instincts.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Your gut instinct is always the right instinct.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Why does the reproductive instinct harbour negative feelings as well as positive ones?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You could almost hear her musical instincts locking in on the target and pressing the button.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Your first instinct is to love the guy.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Harvest time in the countryside still triggers the old instinct to share good fortune.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Our natural instinct is to shelter them.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The animal instinct shrinks and the wisdom becomes dominant.
The Sun (2008)
Plays by instinct and always seems to find holes in defences.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Just how much should they curb their competitive instincts?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
My instinct tells me there is something really the matter with me.
Elizabeth Gaskell Wives and Daughters (1864)
But he lacks the attacking instincts and power compared to the welterweight elite.
The Sun (2015)
So tell him your fears and then trust your gut instinct.
The Sun (2015)
Less intellect, more instinct is the way forward.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But has all this emphasis on cognitive thinking led to a withering of our instincts, our powers of intuition?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
instinct
British English: instinct /ˈɪnstɪŋkt/ NOUN
An instinct is the natural tendency that a person has to behave or react in a particular way.
...a basic instinct for survival.
American English: instinct
Arabic: غَرِيزَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: instinto
Chinese: 本能
Croatian: instinkt
Czech: instinkt
Danish: instinkt
Dutch: instinct
European Spanish: instinto
Finnish: vaisto
French: instinct
German: Instinkt
Greek: ένστικτο
Italian: istinto
Japanese: 本能
Korean: 본능
Norwegian: instinkt
Polish: instynkt
European Portuguese: instinto
Romanian: instinct
Russian: инстинкт
Latin American Spanish: instinto
Swedish: instinkt
Thai: สัญชาตญาณ
Turkish: içgüdü
Ukrainian: інстинкт
Vietnamese: bản năng
All related terms of 'instinct'
gut instinct
an instinctive feeling , as opposed to an opinion or idea based on facts
herd instinct
the inborn tendency to associate with others and follow the group's behaviour
life instinct
the instinct for reproduction and self-preservation
animal instinct
Instinct is the natural tendency that a person or animal has to behave or react in a particular way.
death instinct
the destructive or aggressive instinct , based on a compulsion to return to an earlier harmonious state and, ultimately , to nonexistence
homing instinct
an instinct that enables an animal to return home after travelling great distances
killer instinct
If you say that a sports player or politician has the killer instinct , you admire them for their toughness and determination to succeed.
attacking instinct
Instinct is the natural tendency that a person or animal has to behave or react in a particular way.
hunting instinct
Instinct is the natural tendency that a person or animal has to behave or react in a particular way.
maternal instinct
the natural tendency that a mother has to behave or react in a particular way around her child or children
survival instinct
the instinct in humans and animals to do things in a dangerous situation that will prevent them from dying
competitive instinct
Instinct is the natural tendency that a person or animal has to behave or react in a particular way.
protective instinct
Instinct is the natural tendency that a person or animal has to behave or react in a particular way.