1. Home
  2. Dictionary
  3. Instinct

Definition of Instinct in English :

Define Instinct in English

Instinct meaning in English

Meaning of Instinct in English

Pronunciation of Instinct in English

Instinct pronunciation in English

Pronounce Instinct in English

Instinct

see synonyms of instinct

Noun

1. inherent aptitude, instinct

inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli

Example Sentences:
'the spawning instinct in salmon'
'altruistic instincts in social animals'

Adjective

2. instinct, replete

(followed by with')deeply filled or permeated

Example Sentences:
'imbued with the spirit of the Reformation'
'words instinct with love'
'it is replete with misery'

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Instinct

see synonyms of instinct
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 by with)
a. 
animated or impelled (by)
b. 
imbued or infused (with)

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Instinct

see synonyms of instinct
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

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Instinct

see synonyms of instinct
n.
1. An inborn pattern of behavior that is characteristic of a species and is often a response to specific environmental stimuli: the spawning instinct in salmon; altruistic instincts in social animals.
2. A powerful motivation or impulse.
3. An innate capability or aptitude: an instinct for tact and diplomacy.
adj. (ĭn-stĭngkt)
1. Deeply filled or imbued: words instinct with love.
2. Obsolete Impelled from within.

The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

WORD OF THE DAY

hecatomb

FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS

Recent Searches