C1noun 2K

Instinct

UK /["/ˈɪnstɪŋkt/"]/ US /["/ˈɪnstɪŋkt/"]/ Pronunciation

Definition

a natural quality that makes people and animals tend to behave in a particular way using the knowledge and abilities that they were born with rather than thought or training

Listen to definition

In simple words: A natural ability to know something without thinking about it.

Examples

• Her instinct told her to run away from the danger.
• The cat’s hunting instinct helps it catch mice efficiently.
• Parents often rely on their instinct to protect their children.
• Instinct can guide people when there is no time to think logically.
• The decision to act was based on a deep emotional instinct rather than reasoning.

Usage notes

Use 'instinct' in discussions about animals or human behavior. It is suitable for both spoken and written contexts but avoid it in very formal academic writing where you might use 'intuition' instead.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of 'in-stinct' as your inner guide instinctively telling you what to do.

Collocations

• deep
• powerful
• strong
• have
• possess
• lack
• tell somebody something
• drive somebody
• guide somebody
• by instinct
• on instinct
• instinct for
• deep
• powerful
• strong
• have
• possess
• lack
• tell somebody something
• drive somebody
• guide somebody
• by instinct
• on instinct
• instinct for

Synonyms

• intuition
• gut feeling
• impulse
• hunch
• natural tendency

Antonyms

• reason
• logic
• calculation

Common mistakes

• Mistakenly using 'instincts' as a verb.
• Confusing 'instinct' with 'experience' or 'knowledge'.
• Forgetting that 'instinct' can apply to both people and animals.