Instinct: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe an inborn, natural impulse or tendency that drives behavior without the need for reason or learning. Often used in the context of animal behavior but can also apply to humans.

• Birds have an instinct to migrate before winter.
• His instinct told him to avoid the dark alley.

Relates to the ability to understand or know something immediately, without reasoning or conscious thought. Often used in human psychology and decision-making contexts.

• She had a strong intuition that something was wrong.
• Intuition guided him to make the right choice.

Describes a strong desire or impulse to do something. This word is often used to talk about human cravings or sudden impulses, sometimes with a negative connotation when referring to undesirable or uncontrollable desires.

• He felt an urge to shout in the middle of the meeting.
• She couldn't resist the urge to eat the whole cake.

Refers to actions or reactions that are hard-wired in an organism from birth, without needing to be learned through experience. Commonly used in biological and psychological discussions.

• Spiders spinning webs is an example of innate behavior.
• The baby's ability to suckle is an innate behavior.

Refers to an innate, often biological impulse or reaction that happens without conscious thought. It is commonly used in contexts involving survival, natural behaviors, or deep-seated responses.

• The bird built its nest by instinct.
• He trusted his instincts when deciding to turn left.

Refers to an understanding or knowing that comes without evident rational thought or concrete evidence, often used in contexts involving decision-making, creativity, or personal insight.

• Her intuition told her that something was wrong in the office.
• Trusting her intuition, she decided to invest in the startup.

Describes a feeling or guess based on intuition or incomplete information. It does not have a strong basis in rational thought.

• I have a hunch that it will rain tomorrow.
• She followed her hunch and found the lost keys in the garden.

Indicates a sudden, often irrational desire or urge to do something. It is spontaneous and usually not thought through. This term can carry a negative connotation if the action is reckless.

• He bought the expensive watch on impulse.
• Fighting back the impulse to shout, she tried to calm down.