Instinct

/ˈɪn.stɪŋkt/

Meaning & Definition

noun

An innate or natural impulse or tendency to behave in a particular way.

A mother’s instinct often drives her to protect her children.

A natural or intuitive way of acting or thinking.

His instinct told him to be cautious when entering the dark alley.

A complex reaction, often involving biological mechanisms, that leads to specific behaviors.

Birds have an instinct to migrate south for the winter.

A behavior that is performed without conscious thought or reasoning.

The cat's instinct to hunt was evident as it stalked its prey.

From Latin 'instinctus' meaning 'impulse, indication, or instinct'.

follow your instinct

to trust and act based on one's natural feelings

instinctive behavior

actions that occur naturally without conscious thought

gut instinct

a strong intuitive feeling or sense about something

intuition

The ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning.

reflex

An automatic, instinctive response to a stimulus.

Going with your gut

I had a gut feeling about the situation.

Trust your gut

I've learned to trust my gut in tough situations.