Word
inkling
US/ˈɪŋkɫɪŋ/
UK/ˈɪŋklɪŋ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a very small amount of knowledge or a feeling about something. You use this when you have a guess or a slight idea about what might happen.
n. a slight degree of knowledge or a feeling about something; a hint or suspicion. Often used in the phrase 'have an inkling of'.
Examples
“I have a slight inkling that the meeting will be long.”
“She had a strong inkling that something was wrong with the engine before the car even started.”
“While the evidence was circumstantial, the detective had a strong inkling that the suspect was involved in the crime, prompting a more thorough investigation.”
Examples
simple
“I have a slight inkling that the meeting will be long.”
contextual
“She had a strong inkling that something was wrong with the engine before the car even started.”
complex
“While the evidence was circumstantial, the detective had a strong inkling that the suspect was involved in the crime, prompting a more thorough investigation.”
Real-World Examples
“George Washington , commander in chief of the Continental Army, had no inkling of Howe’s plan.” “Did Yirenkyi have an inkling that he would soon call Brandon Thomas-Asante a clubmate after the striker set him up to score his first World Cup goal for Ghana?” Etymology
From Middle English ningkiling, nyngkiling (“hint, slight indication; mention, whisper”), and then either: * possibly a variant of nikking, nyckyng (“hint, slight indication; mention, whisper”), possibly from nikken (“to mark (a text) for correction (?)”) + -ing, -inge (suffix forming gerunds from verbs); or more likely from the rebracketing of an inklyng as a ninkiling, from Middle English inklen (“to mention (in a low voice); to tell (the truth)”) [and other forms] + -ing, -inge; inklen may be derived from inca, inke (“dread, fear; doubt; danger, risk (?)”), from Old English inca (“doubt, uncertainty; suspicion; fear; cause for complaint, grievance, grudge, ill-will, offence; quarrel; occasion, opportunity”), from Proto-Germanic inkô (“ache; grief; regret”), from Proto-Indo-European h₁eng-, yenǵ- (“illness”). The English word would then be analysable as inkle + -ing. Sense 3 (“desire, inclination”) may have been influenced by incline (“to tend to believe or do something”) or French enclin (“inclined, prone”).
From inkle + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/inkling