instinct
n. C / Un. a natural feeling or ability that makes you act a certain way without thinking. You use this when you just know something is right or wrong, even if you cannot explain why.
n. an innate, typically fixed pattern of behaviour in animals responding to specific stimuli. In humans, it describes an intuitive reaction or natural tendency that occurs without conscious reasoning.
Her first instinct was to run away from the loud noise.
Even though the map pointed left, his instinct told him to turn right, and he eventually found the hidden trail.
While training can override certain automatic responses, a pilot's survival often depends on trusting a split-second instinct when the aircraft's instruments suddenly fail in heavy fog.
From Latin īnstīnctus, past participle of īnstinguō (“to incite, to instigate”), from in (“in, on”) + stinguō (“to prick”).
Countable when referring to a specific intuition; uncountable when describing the general biological drive. Often followed by the preposition 'for' or an infinitive verb.