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I never understood the realism of an imaginary circumstance. While I was doing 'Smoke Signals,' I relied on my instinct and what I grew up with. I had this energy, but it was a one-dimensional thing.
Adam Beach

Meaning of "instinct" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD INSTINCT

From Latin instinctus roused, from instinguere to incite; compare instigate.
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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.
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PRONUNCIATION OF INSTINCT

instinct  [ˈɪnstɪŋkt] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF INSTINCT

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Instinct can act as a noun and an adjective.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

The adjective is the word that accompanies the noun to determine or qualify it.

WHAT DOES INSTINCT MEAN IN ENGLISH?

instinct

Instinct

Instinct or innate behavior is the inherent inclination of a living organism towards a particular complex behavior. The simplest example of an instinctive behavior is a fixed action pattern, in which a very short to medium length sequence of actions, without variation, are carried out in response to a clearly defined stimulus. An instinctive behavior of shaking water from wet fur. A baby leatherback turtle makes its way to the open ocean Any behavior is instinctive if it is performed without being based upon prior experience, and is therefore an expression of innate biological factors. Sea turtles, newly hatched on a beach, will automatically move toward the ocean. A joey climbs into its mother's pouch upon being born. Honeybees communicate by dancing in the direction of a food source without formal instruction. Other examples include animal fighting, animal courtship behavior, internal escape functions, and the building of nests. All of these are examples of complex behaviors and are thus substantially different from simple reflex behaviors.

Definition of instinct in the English dictionary

The first definition of instinct in the dictionary is the innate capacity of an animal to respond to a given stimulus in a relatively fixed way. Other definition of instinct is inborn intuitive power. Instinct is also a natural and apparently innate aptitude.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH INSTINCT


cinct
sɪŋkt
discinct
dɪˈsɪŋkt
distinct
dɪˈstɪŋkt
extinct
ɪkˈstɪŋkt
indistinct
ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt
overinked
ˌəʊvərˈɪŋkt
precinct
ˈpriːsɪŋkt
procinct
prəʊˈsɪŋkt
sexlinked
ˈsɛksˌlɪŋkt
succinct
səkˈsɪŋkt
tinct
tɪŋkt
unextinct
ˌʌnɪkˈstɪŋkt

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE INSTINCT

instigative
instigator
instil
instill
instillation
instilled
instiller
instilling
instillment
instilment
instinctive
instinctively
instinctivity
instinctual
instinctually
institorial
institute
instituter
institutes
institution

WORDS THAT END LIKE INSTINCT

depeinct
gut instinct
herd instinct
homing instinct
killer instinct
life instinct
maternal instinct
pedestrian precinct
shopping precinct
survival instinct
voting precinct

Synonyms and antonyms of instinct in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

SYNONYMS OF «INSTINCT»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «instinct» and belong to the same grammatical category.
synonyms of instinct

Translation of «instinct» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF INSTINCT

Find out the translation of instinct to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of instinct from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «instinct» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

本能
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

instinto
570 millions of speakers

English

instinct
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

वृत्ति
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

غَرِيزَةٌ
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

инстинкт
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

instinto
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

প্রেরণা
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

instinct
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Naluri
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Instinkt
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

本能
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

본능
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Insting
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

bản năng
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

உள்ளுணர்வு
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

अंतःप्रेरणा
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

içgüdü
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

istinto
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

instynkt
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

інстинкт
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

instinct
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

ένστικτο
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

instink
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

instinkt
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

instinkt
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of instinct

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «INSTINCT»

The term «instinct» is very widely used and occupies the 17.188 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Very widely used
92
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «instinct» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of instinct
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «instinct».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «INSTINCT» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «instinct» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «instinct» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about instinct

EXAMPLES

10 QUOTES WITH «INSTINCT»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word instinct.
1
Christopher Alexander
Speaking as a builder, if you start something, you must have a vision of the thing which arises from your instinct about preserving and enhancing what is there.
2
Mikhail Bakunin
To revolt is a natural tendency of life. Even a worm turns against the foot that crushes it. In general, the vitality and relative dignity of an animal can be measured by the intensity of its instinct to revolt.
3
Honore de Balzac
Love has its own instinct, finding the way to the heart, as the feeblest insect finds the way to its flower, with a will which nothing can dismay nor turn aside.
4
Julian Barnes
I have an instinct for survival, for self-preservation.
5
Adam Beach
I never understood the realism of an imaginary circumstance. While I was doing 'Smoke Signals,' I relied on my instinct and what I grew up with. I had this energy, but it was a one-dimensional thing.
6
Antony Beevor
What is terrifying is the ability, through mass brainwashing or propaganda, to change normal human instinct, which does not necessarily contain very much hatred.
7
Bjork
Feminists bore me to death. I follow my instinct and if that supports young girls in any way, great. But I'd rather they saw it more as a lesson about following their own instincts rather than imitating somebody.
8
Bill Brandt
And only the photographer himself knows the effect he wants. He should know by instinct, grounded in experience, what subjects are enhanced by hard or soft, light or dark treatment.
9
Kate Burton
I have a tendency as an actress in general to ground my characters. Even when doing outlandish characters, that's my instinct.
10
Samuel Butler
To live is like to love - all reason is against it, and all healthy instinct for it.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «INSTINCT»

Discover the use of instinct in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to instinct and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It ...
Based on Stanford University psychologist Kelly McGonigal's wildly popular course "The Science of Willpower," The Willpower Instinct is the first book to explain the new science of self-control and how it can be harnessed to improve our ...
Kelly McGonigal Ph.D., 2011
2
The Art Instinct: Beauty, Pleasure, & Human Evolution
Why do we value art, and what is it for? These questions have long been asked by scholars in the humanities and in literature, but this is the first book to consider the biological basis of this deep human need.
Denis Dutton, 2009
3
Instinct
Through these books, scholars, interpreters, students, and non-academics alike can see the thoughts and beliefs of Americans who came before us.""
Paul Chadbourne, 2009
4
Fourth Instinct: The Call of the Soul
The author describes the need for spiritual fulfillment and the way to find it.
Arianna Huffington, 2003
5
The Language Instinct: How The Mind Creates Language
This edition includes an update on advances in the science of language since The Language Instinct was first published.
Steven Pinker, 2010
6
An Instinct for Dragons
This volume is a comprehensive collection of critical essays on The Taming of the Shrew, and includes extensive discussions of the play's various printed versions and its theatrical productions.
David E. Jones, 2002
7
The Puzzle Instinct: The Meaning of Puzzles in Human Life
Marcel Danesi explores the psychology of puzzles and puzzling, with scores of classic examples. His pioneering book is both entertaining and enlightening." —Will Shortz, Crossword Editor, The New York Times ".
Marcel Danesi, 2004
8
The Faith Instinct: How Religion Evolved and Why It Endures
The Faith Instinct offers an objective and nonpolemical exploration of humanity's quest for spiritual transcendence.
Nicholas Wade, 2009
9
The Instinct to Heal: Curing Depression, Anxiety and Stress ...
An award-winning psychiatrist and neuroscientist presents seven all-natural approaches to fighting depression and anxiety by building on the body's relationship to the brain, yielding dramatic improvements quickly and permanently.
David Servan-Schreiber, 2005
10
Drowning Instinct
Why is the most popular girl in school suddenly jealous of her? And where is Mr Anderson's wife? This is a love story that breaks all the rules, but that won't stop it breaking your heart.
Ilsa J. Bick, 2013

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «INSTINCT»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term instinct is used in the context of the following news items.
1
EVO 2015: Iron Galaxy recalls Killer Instinct: Season 2 and reveals …
With Season 2 behind them, Iron Galaxy came to Evo 2015 to recall everything that went into their year-long tenure with Killer Instinct. They'll ... «Shacknews, Jul 15»
2
Stream BB Diamond shares new track 'Instinct'
Coming from background to the forefront with 'Instinct', BB Diamond comes out of the gate racing. It's a shape-shifting, shuffling house-inspired ... «The 405, Jul 15»
3
West Ham lacked killer instinct against Birkirkara, says Slaven Bilic …
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic accepted his side had lacked a cutting edge in attack after a scrappy goal from defender James Tomkins in the ... «Daily Mail, Jul 15»
4
Practice Killer Instinct's shadow breakers in your browser - Destructoid
A friend of mine who plays Killer Instinct competitively linked me this gem late last night, and I have say, it's pretty damn awesome. In short, it's a ... «Destructoid, Jul 15»
5
Hiller Instinct: Scott Walker tells me he's independent. Reall - 7News …
But there was a bigger than expected crowd outside this diner in Amherst, New Hampshire this morning to see Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on ... «WHDH-TV, Jul 15»
6
New Mixtape: DJ Instinct - 'Compilation mixtape for 9ice'
New Mixtape: DJ Instinct - 'Compilation mixtape for 9ice' ... The mixtape is hosted by Coded Tunes in house disc jockey, DJ Instinct. «Pulse Nigeria, Jul 15»
7
Gambling is a basic instinct
Betting (gambling) is older than the evolution of our species — homo sapiens. Taking a chance has been a part of life long before dinosaurs ... «The Hindu, Jul 15»
8
Martin: my gut instinct was to attack | Cycling - SBS
"I don't know what I was thinking there, my gut instinct was to attack," said Martin. "It felt like it was the right thing to do. Martin could be excused ... «SBS, Jul 15»
9
allAfrica.com: Liberia: Ebola Virus Survivors Instinct - Sex Eclipses …
"We are here and stigmatized by the community, but the Health Ministry says we are quarantined, but nothing to show we are being ... «AllAfrica.com, Jul 15»
10
Yes, Paul Rudd Tried to 'Basic Instinct' Michael Douglas While …
I'm gonna Basic Instinct him. When he's speaking, I'm sitting in a chair across from him, and I'm going to, you know." Rudd then emulated the ... «Hollywood Reporter, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Instinct [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/instinct>. Jun 2026 ».
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