Word
perceptive
Phoneticsper·cep·tive, stress on the second syllable
US/pɝˈsɛptɪv/
UK/pəsˈɛptɪv/
Definition
adj. having the ability to notice small details or understand things quickly. You use this to describe someone who is very smart and good at seeing the truth.
adj. having or showing the ability to notice or understand things quickly and accurately. Often describes a person's keen insight or a keen eye for detail.
Examples
“She is a very perceptive student who notices small mistakes.”
“The manager is perceptive enough to realize that the team is struggling with the new software.”
“A perceptive observer might notice that the subtle changes in the landscape suggest a much older history than the official records indicate.”
Examples
simple
“She is a very perceptive student who notices small mistakes.”
contextual
“The manager is perceptive enough to realize that the team is struggling with the new software.”
complex
“A perceptive observer might notice that the subtle changes in the landscape suggest a much older history than the official records indicate.”
Real-World Examples
“Alongside his singing career Herford held appointments at the RNCM, the Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal College of Music in London, where he was held in high regard as a rigorous, perceptive teacher.” “The managing director of the company that printed her books suggested that she read Nietzsche on the perceptive grounds that they had a lot of ideas in common.” Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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
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