instinct

USAGE SUMMARY

"instinct" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to a natural or innate tendency or impulse that influences behaviour, such as a human or animal's natural impulses to act without reasoning. For example, "Following her instinct, she chose to take a different path and it ended up leading her to safety."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That wish to pass something on is about the most basic, human and natural instinct there is.

The Guardian

It had the chutzpah of Charlie Adam's 65-yard missile against Chelsea, the touch and technique of Wayne Rooney's swivelling volley against Aston Villa and the did-that-actually-just-happen quality of Jermain Defoe's winner for Sunderland against Newcastle United, and above all it was a gloriously subtle goal, instinct combining with a clear thought-process to devastating effect.

The Guardian - Sport

You're a rational person with an instinct for self-preservation.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"That makes me wonder whether I will be able to recover my instinct for the game," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

She was popular at school and had a noted instinct for caring, going out of her way to play with Michael, the neighbour with Down's syndrome, and paying regular visits to a lonely old man down the road known as Mr Partridge.

The Guardian

"They had been asking for some time to do it, but I don't really have that sort of retrospective instinct and so kept saying 'No thank you'.

The Guardian

Again, my first instinct is that they must have been rubbernecking, the sordid allegations having made HRH a rather grim sort of draw, or at the very least not as ferociously dull and pointless as the rest of the apres-ski programme.

The Guardian - Opinion

While the first Conservative instinct was simply to welcome Pfizer, Ed Miliband deserves some credit for his insistence that Britain could do better, even though the intervention exposed how sketchy Labour's industrial thinking remains.

The Guardian - Opinion

Independent editor Amol Rajan said "every instinct" told him to publish the cartoons but described it as "too much of a risk".

The Guardian

If he's going to bring it back to British telly, he must sit on his instinct to make everything as big as possible and remember what he liked about wrestling in the first place.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The instinct, in these circumstances, is to brace oneself for the onslaught of unbearable Aussie swagger.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing behavior driven by inherent nature, use "instinct" to emphasize the automatic and non-deliberate aspect of the action.

Common error

Avoid using "instinct" when referring to actions based on careful thought and analysis; reserve it for behaviors stemming from inherent, unlearned responses.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "instinct" is a noun, referring to a natural or inherent impulse or behavior. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes actions or feelings arising without conscious thought, illustrated in examples like 'Many animals fear fire by instinct'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

20%

Opinion

15%

Less common in

Lifestyle

5%

Tech

5%

Books

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "instinct" functions primarily as a noun, denoting an inherent impulse or behavior, a concept validated by Ludwig AI. Its purpose is to explain actions rooted in innate tendencies, differentiating them from those based on rational thought. As a widely used term across various registers, it is most common in News & Media, Sport, and Opinion contexts. When employing "instinct", ensure it accurately reflects behavior stemming from natural, unlearned responses rather than reasoned analysis. The most authoritative sources, such as The Guardian and The New York Times, frequently employ the term, confirming its widespread and accepted usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Intuition

Similar to instinct, but often implies a conscious awareness or feeling.

Gut feeling

An informal way to describe a feeling or instinct that is not based on logic or reason.

Hunch

A feeling or guess based on intuition rather than known facts.

Premonition

A feeling that something is about to happen, often something unpleasant.

Innate ability

Refers to a skill or talent that a person is born with.

Natural aptitude

A natural ability to do something well.

Unthinking response

An automatic reaction without conscious thought.

Reflex

An involuntary response to a stimulus.

Impulse

A sudden strong desire or urge to do something.

Sixth sense

An intuitive feeling not attributable to the five physical senses.

FAQs

How can I use "instinct" in a sentence?

You can use "instinct" to describe a natural or inherent impulse. For example, "Her "instinct" was to protect her young."

What's a good alternative to the word "instinct"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "intuition", "gut feeling", or "hunch".

Is it correct to say someone acted purely on "instinct"?

Yes, if you mean they acted based on a natural, unthinking impulse rather than conscious reasoning.

How does "instinct" differ from "intuition"?

"Instinct" is often seen as a more innate, biological drive, while "intuition" involves a degree of unconscious processing and feeling based on experience.