noun

inkling

ING-kling/ˈɪŋklɪŋ/

A slight idea or suspicion about something.

The tentative sketch captures the designer's first inkling of a new chair.

An inkling as the first vague idea for a design: a compact two-stage comparison contrasts a barely formed chair sketch with the same idea becoming clear.

Etymology

Its origin is disputed: it may reflect a verb meaning “utter in an undertone, hint,” or a term for a slight indication derived from marking a text for correction.

In context

25th Hour Classics9:17

Long ago, I had a vague inkling of a machine to travel through time, exclaimed the very young man.

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More examples

I have no inkling of what this repair will cost.
His sudden silence gives me an inkling of trouble.
We had our first inklings of their plan last week.

Forms

inkling · inklings

Similar words

notion: A general idea or belief, not necessarily slight or uncertain.
suspicion: Often suggests distrust or concern that something is wrong.
hunch: An intuitive feeling, often stronger than a faint awareness.