Word
instinct
Phoneticsin·stinct, stress on the first syllable
/ˈɪnstɪŋkt/
Definitions
01natural behavior
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Science
n. a natural way of acting that animals and people are born with.
n. an innate, typically fixed pattern of behavior in animals in response to certain stimuli.
“Birds have a natural instinct to build nests in the springtime.”
“The migratory instinct in certain species of butterflies remains one of the most fascinating subjects in behavioral biology.”
Antonyms
02intuitive feeling
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a feeling that makes you do something without having to think about it first.
n. a natural aptitude or intuitive way of acting or thinking without conscious deliberation.
“My first instinct was to run, but I decided to stay and help.”
“Her professional instinct told her that the deal was too good to be true, despite the impressive figures presented by the board.”
Synonyms
03filled with
C2 · Proficiency Archaic · Literary
adj. filled or charged with a specific quality or feeling.
adj. imbued or charged with a particular quality, emotion, or spirit.
“The old forest was instinct with a strange and quiet energy.”
“The poet described a landscape instinct with life, where every leaf and stone seemed to vibrate with a hidden spirit.”
Usage
Usually followed by the preposition 'with'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “instinct” in context.
Verb
01. act on instinct
“The goalkeeper acted on instinct and dived to his left to save the ball.”
verb + prep + noun
02. suppress an instinct
“He had to suppress an instinct to run away when the confrontation began.”
verb + noun
03. trust your instincts
“When you are in a difficult situation, it is often best to trust your instincts.”
verb + possessive + noun
Adjective
04. maternal instinct
“Her maternal instinct kicked in the moment she heard the baby crying.”
adj + noun
05. primal instinct
“The fear of the dark is a primal instinct that has helped humans survive for millennia.”
adj + noun
06. unerring instinct
“The editor has an unerring instinct for identifying which stories will go viral.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. instinct for survival
“In extreme cold, the body's instinct for survival takes over all other functions.”
noun + prep + noun
08. killer instinct
“To succeed in high-stakes business, you sometimes need a bit of a killer instinct.”
noun + noun
Preposition
09. by instinct
“She knew by instinct that something was wrong as soon as she entered the room.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“The twist is (and it’s really not much of a surprise) that the true enemy is not really the shark, which is only following its sharky instincts.” “Your first instinct might be to try to count the completed grids individually.” “But when it is darker, during an eclipse, that instinct may not kick in, even while our eyes are being damaged.” “As in Dreamshook, Nolan’s instinct is to celebrate scientists and innovators as fellow humans rather than venerating them as geniuses.” Etymology
From Latin īnstīnctus, past participle of īnstinguō (“to incite, to instigate”), from in (“in, on”) + stinguō (“to prick”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Idioms
01. killer instinct
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/instinct