rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryinstinctInborn tendency
noun

instinct

IN-stingkt/ˈɪnstɪŋkt/

An unlearned impulse guiding behavior without deliberate thought.

Instinct guides the newly hatched turtles toward the sea without an adult's help.

Newly hatched sea turtles crawl from an opened sand nest toward the sea without an adult guiding them, making innate, unlearned behavior concrete.
Etymology
inLatinin, into
+stinctLatinto prick, goad

The prefix and goading root formed a verb meaning to incite or impel. Its noun meant a prompting, which became a natural prompting and then an inborn tendency.

In context

21 Studios105:19
fight-or-flight for instance is that a saber-toothed tiger holy I better fight or I better run my ass off right that's the instinct part
The Red Man Group Episode #51: The Red Pill & Politics with Special Guest Elliott Hulse

More examples

  • The bird gathers nesting material by instinct.
  • Her first instinct is to protect her child.
  • Trust your instincts when a situation feels unsafe.

Forms

instinct · instincts

instinctive adjective — Arising naturally, without learning or conscious thought.

instinctively adverb — By natural impulse rather than deliberate thought.

Similar words

impulse
A sudden urge, not necessarily an inborn tendency.
intuition
Understanding without conscious reasoning, rather than an inborn behavioral drive.
reflex
An automatic response to a stimulus, usually simpler and immediate.