Word
instinctive
Phoneticsin·stinc·tive, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪv/
UK/ɪnstˈɪŋktɪv/
Definition
adj. describing a feeling or action that you do naturally without having to think about it first.
adj. relating to or prompted by an innate, typically fixed pattern of behaviour in response to certain stimuli; arising from impulse rather than conscious thought.
Examples
“Her reaction to the loud noise was instinctive.”
“The experienced pilot made an instinctive correction to the controls as soon as the plane hit the turbulence.”
“While some social behaviours are learned through observation, the protective bond between a parent and a newborn is often described as an instinctive drive that transcends cultural boundaries.”
Examples
simple
“Her reaction to the loud noise was instinctive.”
contextual
“The experienced pilot made an instinctive correction to the controls as soon as the plane hit the turbulence.”
complex
“While some social behaviours are learned through observation, the protective bond between a parent and a newborn is often described as an instinctive drive that transcends cultural boundaries.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'feel', or 'seem', or attributively before a noun.
Pitfall
an instinctly reaction
an instinctive reaction
Learners sometimes confuse the adjective 'instinctive' with the adverb 'instinctively' or the noun 'instinct' when modifying a noun.
Real-World Examples
“AI doesn't have the same instinctive moral guardrails as humans.” “It’s an instinctive, joyful response to something poetic made from the very ordinary: a sock, a foot and a logotype.” Etymology
From instinct + -ive.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/instinctive