instinct
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“Birds have a natural instinct to build nests in the springtime.”
In context“The migratory instinct in certain species of butterflies remains one of the most fascinating subjects in behavioral biology.”
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“My first instinct was to run, but I decided to stay and help.”
In context“Her professional instinct told her that the deal was too good to be true, despite the impressive figures presented by the board.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
adj.filled or charged with a specific quality or feeling.
adj.imbued or charged with a particular quality, emotion, or spirit.
Simple“The old forest was instinct with a strange and quiet energy.”
In context“The poet described a landscape instinct with life, where every leaf and stone seemed to vibrate with a hidden spirit.”
UsageUsually followed by the preposition 'with'.
“But when it is darker, during an eclipse, that instinct may not kick in, even while our eyes are being damaged.”
“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.”
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.