intuition
instinctive understanding without reasoning
The natural ability to know or feel something is true, without thinking about it in a logical way.
trust [someone's] intuition about [something]
- She has amazing intuition about people and can tell when someone is lying.
- My intuition told me not to sign the contract, even though the offer looked perfect on paper.
- As a manager, he often relies on intuition rather than detailed market reports.
- Meditation helped him develop a stronger intuition about which projects to pursue.
- Good doctors use both medical knowledge and intuition when making difficult decisions.
- My intuition tells me this is a bad idea.
- I trusted my intuition and took the job.
- Her intuition about the problem was correct.
- Parents often use intuition to help their children.
- He has good intuition when he chooses business partners.
an instinctive belief or idea
A particular thought or idea that feels true, even though you do not have clear reasons or facts.
have an intuition that [clause]
- I had an intuition that the meeting would be canceled, and sure enough, it was.
- Her intuition that the company would fail turned out to be accurate.
- He followed an intuition about the design, and it became their most successful product.
- My first intuition was that she needed space, not advice.
- The scientist had an intuition about the result long before the data proved it.
- I have an intuition that it will rain.
- Her intuition was that he was not honest.
- My intuition about the exam questions was correct.
- His intuition told him to call his mother.
- Their intuition was that the plan would not work.
direct, non-inferential knowledge (philosophy)
In philosophy or mathematics, a very direct way of knowing something is true, without using step-by-step thinking or experience.
philosophical intuition about [a principle]
- Many philosophers question whether moral intuition can serve as a reliable source of ethical knowledge.
- The theory was built on the common intuition that knowledge requires both truth and justification.
- In mathematics, intuition about infinity often conflicts with formal definitions.
- Her argument began from the intuition that personal identity persists through radical change.
- The experiment was designed to test our basic intuitions about free will.
- Some philosophers say we should trust moral intuition.
- The teacher asked the class about their intuition of fairness.
- In this book, the writer talks about our intuition of time.
- The study looks at people’s basic intuition about what is real.
- He uses intuition in math before he writes the full proof.
- Base: intuition
- Plural: intuition, intuitions
female intuition
1the idea of women's special intuition
A common idea or stereotype that women notice things and understand people in a special, intuitive way.
- She joked that it was just female intuition that told her he was hiding something.
- The movie plays on the cliché of female intuition solving the mystery.
- Some people believe in female intuition, while others see it as a stereotype.
follow your intuition
1act according to your intuition
To do what your deep feeling or sense tells you is right, not just what seems logical or what others say.
- He followed his intuition and started his own business.
- The coach told the players to follow their intuition in the final minutes of the game.
- Artists often follow their intuition instead of strict rules.
go with your intuition
1choose based on intuition
To pick what your feeling tells you is best, instead of thinking too much or asking many people.
- When in doubt, just go with your intuition.
- He went with his intuition and turned down the job.
- Sometimes you should stop overthinking and go with your intuition.
gut intuition
1strong, bodily intuitive feeling
A very strong feeling about something that you feel deep in your body, not in logical thinking.
- Her gut intuition told her not to get on the plane.
- I had a gut intuition that the project would fail, even though the numbers looked good.
- Sometimes your gut intuition is more accurate than long reports.
have good intuition
1possess strong, reliable intuition
To often make the right choices or guesses using your intuition.
- She has good intuition about people and hires the right staff.
- You clearly have good intuition when it comes to timing the market.
- Leaders with good intuition can react quickly in a crisis.
listen to your intuition
1pay attention to your intuition
To notice and think about what your inner feeling is telling you before you decide or act.
- If something seems wrong, listen to your intuition.
- She finally listened to her intuition and said no to the offer.
- Therapists often encourage clients to listen to their intuition about what they need.
mother's intuition
1a mother's strong intuition about her child
The idea that a mother can strongly feel when something is wrong or important with her child, even without clear signs.
- By mother's intuition, she knew her baby was sick before the fever started.
- He said his safety was thanks to his mother's intuition that told her to keep him home.
- Many parents talk about mother's intuition as something real and powerful.
trust your intuition
1rely on your intuitive judgment
To believe your own feeling or sense about something and act according to it, even without clear reasons or facts.
- When you choose a partner, it's important to trust your intuition.
- If the deal feels wrong, trust your intuition and walk away.
- She decided to trust her intuition and move to another city.