instinct
1 Americanadjective
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filled or infused with some animating principle (usually followed bywith ).
instinct with life.
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Obsolete. animated by some inner force.
noun
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the innate capacity of an animal to respond to a given stimulus in a relatively fixed way
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inborn intuitive power
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a natural and apparently innate aptitude
adjective
Etymology
Origin of instinct1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin instinctus “prompting, instigation, enthusiasm,” noun use of past participle of insting(uere) “to excite, incite, rouse,” from in- in- 2 + -stinguere, presumably, “to prick, mark by pricking” ( cf. distinct, instigate)
Origin of instinct2
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin instinctus “excited, inspired,” past participle of instinguere “to excite, incite, rouse”; see instinct 1
Explanation
An instinct is something you don't need to learn — it happens naturally, without you even thinking about it. Babies cry by instinct, and ducks follow their mother by instinct. Animals and humans learn a lot of things from other animals and humans. But if there isn't any learning involved, then the behavior is an instinct. Instincts come naturally, like a baby's desire to feed. Some behaviors are a combination of instinct and learned behavior, like language. Others happen without any teaching at all, like the instinct to run when you see a big, hungry looking bear. When you see the word instinct, think natural response.
Vocabulary lists containing instinct
Unit 1: Telling Details
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"Fears and Phobias," Vocabulary from the article
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"Is Survival Selfish?" Vocabulary from the argument
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
You can see somebody torn between their better judgment, their core instinct, their humanity, and someone who is so frustrated that they’re stepping toward a kind of nihilism.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
There’s no shame in it—that’s how bubbles get bubblier and it’s the same instinct that helped your ancestors survive in prehistoric times.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
Your instinct to contact the Social Security Administration proactively is not unreasonable.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026
"Our instinct may be to start swimming but a lot of the time our body is in shock, especially if you fall into very cold water, which is really dangerous," she told BBC Radio WM.
From BBC • May 26, 2026
My first instinct to prove that Fig was sick was to consult an expert.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
