instinct
[noun]
Synonyms: intuition, faculty, gift, impulse, knack, predisposition, proclivity, talent, tendency

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

in‧stinct /ˈɪnstɪŋkt/ noun [uncountable and countable]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: instinctus, from instinguere 'to make someone wish to do something']
a natural tendency to behave in a particular way or a natural ability to know something, which is not learned ⇒ intuition
instinct for
Animals have a natural instinct for survival.
instinct to do something
the human instinct to form relationships
by instinct
Birds build nests by instinct.
sexual/maternal/survival instinct
Her instinct told her that something was wrong.
sb’s first instinct (=what someone feels like doing first when something happens)
His first instinct was to rush back to Isobel.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

instinct
noun
ADJ. deep, powerful, strong | gut | first, initial His first instinct was to run away from danger.
good, unerring Against her better instincts, she ran back into the burning house to save some of her jewellery. He had an unerring instinct for when people were lying to him.
base | basic | natural | primitive | creative | aggressive, competitive | maternal, mothering, protective | fighting, hunting, killer, predatory (often figurative) He plays well but lacks that killer instinct that wins matches.
survival | herd What makes all these people come to the club? In my view it's the herd instinct.
sexual | business, commercial, political | animal, human
VERB + INSTINCT have | lack | develop In negotiating you have to develop an instinct for when to be tough and when to make a deal.
follow, go on, obey, rely on, trust Why don't you just follow your natural instincts?
ignore, suppress | satisfy | appeal to They accused the campaign of appealing to the electorate's baser instincts.
share Both superpowers shared the same instinct for self-preservation.
INSTINCT + VERB tell sb sth Her instinct told her that she was being followed.
guide sb Artists have to learn to be guided by their instincts.
take over Her instincts took over and she dived on the escaping thief.
be right/wrong I've trusted my instincts in the past and they've usually been right.
PREP. by ~ Babies know by instinct who their mother is.
on ~ I acted purely on instinct.
~ for He's got an instinct for survival in a tough job.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

instinct

a deep/strong/powerful instinct
He bent down, obeying a deep instinct to protect himself from danger.
a natural instinct
I followed my natural instinct to run away.
somebody's first/initial instinct
His first instinct was to try and hide.
somebody's gut instinct informal (=someone's first instinct)
Her gut instinct about Jimmy had been right.
human instinct
It's a natural human instinct to comfort someone who is unhappy.
animal instinct
It's animal instinct to attack the leader of the herd when his strength begins to fail.
a basic instinct
The need to survive is the most basic instinct that we have.
survival instinct (=an instinct to survive in a difficult situation)
Survival instinct told me to get up and run.
killer instinct (=an instinct to kill, harm or defeat someone)
The team needs to develop the killer instinct.
competitive instinct (=an instinct to compete against others and try to win)
He now channels his competitive instincts into his job.
maternal instinct (=the instinct of a mother)
Kate's maternal instinct told her to pick the child up and comfort it.
political instinct
The minister's shrewd political instincts didn't let him down.
business/commercial instinct
I have faith in your business instinct.
trust your instinct(s) (also rely on your instincts) (=believe that your instincts are correct)
I've trusted my instincts in the past and they've usually been right.
go on your instinct(s) informal (=trust your instincts)
I just went on my instincts and refused his offer.
follow/obey your instinct(s) (=do what your instinct tells you to do)
You should obey your instincts when dealing with strangers.
have the instinct to do something
She had the instinct to see what made people unhappy.
lack the instinct to do something
He lacked the instinct to attack another human being.
an instinct tells somebody something
Every instinct told her that he was telling the truth.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲