intuitive
gb/ɪntˈuətɪv/ us/ɪntˈuətɪv/
B2
English
~ 6800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
based on instinctive feeling
Based on a feeling or natural sense, not on slow, careful thinking or study.
Usage pattern:
an intuitive [decision/feeling/judgment] about [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'intuitive' means 'interesting' or 'creative'. It actually focuses on using natural feeling or quick understanding without detailed reasoning.
Synonyms
instinctive (Emphasizes natural, inborn reaction; slightly more physical or emotional than intellectual.)
|
gut (Informal; used mainly in phrases like "gut feeling" for strong, non-rational feelings.)
Antonyms
rational (Stresses careful use of logic and reasoning rather than feeling.)
|
analytical (Focuses on breaking something into parts and thinking about each part carefully.)
Collocations
intuitive feeling
|intuitive sense
|intuitive judgment
|intuitive decision
|intuitive understanding
Themes
thinking
|emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She had an intuitive feeling that something was wrong with the deal.
- My choice of university was more intuitive than logical; it just felt right.
- Good negotiators often make quick, intuitive judgments about people.
- His explanation matched my intuitive sense of how the system should work.
- The doctor made an intuitive diagnosis before the test results arrived.
Learner examples
- I had an intuitive feeling that he was lying.
- Her decision to leave was intuitive, not planned.
- He made an intuitive guess and it was right.
- I do not know why I trust her; it is an intuitive choice.
- Sometimes an intuitive answer is better than a long study.
adjective
B2
property
2
easy to understand or use
Easy to understand or use without help, because it works in a way that feels natural.
Usage pattern:
an intuitive [interface/system/app/design]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'intuitive' with 'intelligent' when talking about software or systems. 'Intuitive' means easy for people to understand or use; it does not mean the system itself is smart.
Synonyms
user-friendly (Focuses on being comfortable and easy for users; often slightly more informal and common in tech and product talk.)
|
straightforward (Emphasizes simplicity and lack of complications, not necessarily matching natural expectations.)
Antonyms
confusing (Emphasizes that something is hard to understand or figure out.)
|
complicated (Stresses many parts or steps that make using or understanding something difficult.)
Collocations
intuitive interface
|intuitive design
|intuitive layout
|intuitive controls
|intuitive navigation
Themes
technology
|design
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The new software has a very intuitive interface, so even beginners can use it.
- We need a more intuitive layout for the website's home page.
- The app is powerful but not intuitive; most users need a tutorial.
- Good product design makes complex features feel intuitive to the customer.
- These controls are not intuitive at all—I had to read the manual twice.
Learner examples
- The phone is easy to use because the menu is intuitive.
- This program is not intuitive, so I get lost.
- Our teacher showed us an intuitive way to solve the problem.
- The website is intuitive, and I can find everything fast.
- We want the game to be simple and intuitive for children.
adjective
B2
property
3
having strong natural understanding
Describes someone who understands things fast by feeling or natural sense, not by slow, logical thinking.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is (very) intuitive about [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'intuitive' when they mean 'intelligent' or 'smart'. 'Intuitive' is about quick, natural understanding, not general mental ability or high IQ.
Synonyms
perceptive (Suggests noticing small details and understanding them quickly; slightly more formal.)
|
insightful (Emphasizes deep understanding and good ideas about a situation or person.)
Antonyms
unperceptive (Describes someone who does not easily notice or understand what is going on.)
|
slow (Informal; suggests taking a long time to understand things.)
Collocations
highly intuitive
|very intuitive
|intuitive person
|intuitive leader
|intuitive teacher
Themes
personality
|thinking
|work
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She is an intuitive manager who quickly senses what her team needs.
- He is very intuitive about people and can tell when someone is unhappy.
- Our designer is highly intuitive and often solves problems before we notice them.
- An intuitive therapist can pick up on emotions that clients never say out loud.
- You are very intuitive—you understood the issue before I explained it.
Learner examples
- My friend is very intuitive and always knows how I feel.
- She is an intuitive teacher and sees when students are tired.
- He is not logical, but he is very intuitive.
- The coach is intuitive and changes the game plan at the right time.
- I want to be more intuitive when I talk with customers.
adjective
technical
C1
property
4
known directly without proof
Describes knowledge or ideas that someone feels are true at once, without needing a long explanation or proof.
Usage pattern:
intuitive [knowledge/idea/truth] that [clause]
Common mistake:
Learners may mix this technical sense with the general meaning 'easy to use'. In academic texts, 'intuitive' often contrasts with 'mathematically proven' or 'formally derived', not with 'complicated'.
Synonyms
self-evident (Often used in formal or philosophical contexts for truths that seem obviously true without needing proof.)
|
axiomatic (Highly formal and technical; used mainly in mathematics and logic for statements accepted without proof.)
Antonyms
counterintuitive (Describes something that seems to go against what people would naturally expect or feel to be true.)
|
non-obvious (Indicates that something is not immediately clear or easy to grasp.)
Collocations
intuitive knowledge
|intuitive truth
|intuitive idea
|intuitive belief
|intuitive assumption
Themes
philosophy
|science
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- To many people, it seems intuitive that heavier objects fall faster, even though physics shows this is false.
- The theory challenges our intuitive ideas about space and time.
- Intuitive knowledge plays an important role in some branches of philosophy.
- The results are surprising because they go against our intuitive expectations.
- What feels intuitive in everyday life is not always scientifically correct.
Learner examples
- It is intuitive to think that the sun moves around the earth.
- The idea is not intuitive, so the teacher gives many examples.
- For new students, this rule is not intuitive at all.
- Some findings in science are very intuitive, and others are not.
- His answer sounds intuitive, but it is wrong.
Grammar
Dictionary form
intuitive
IPA
GB/ɪntˈuətɪv/
US/ɪntˈuətɪv/
Syllables & stress
in - tu - it - ive (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tu)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: intuitive
Word family
Core family
intuition
noun B2
intuitively
adverb C1
Related words
intuit
verb C1
Negative and opposite forms
unintuitive
adjective
counterintuitive
adjective
Advanced or less common
intuitiveness
noun
counterintuitively
adverb
Expressions
intuitive feel for
1/ɪntˈuətɪv fˈil fɚ/
fixed phrase
natural ability or instinct for something
A natural, easy ability with something, without needing many lessons or rules.
Examples
- He has an intuitive feel for timing in comedy.
- The chef has an intuitive feel for flavors and textures.
intuitive sense of
1/ɪntˈuətɪv sˈɛns əv/
fixed phrase
a natural feeling of understanding
A natural feeling that you understand something or know what is true, without clear facts or reasons.
Examples
- She has an intuitive sense of when a customer is about to leave the store.
- Good writers often have an intuitive sense of how much detail a reader needs.
intuitive user interface
1/ɪntˈuətɪv jˈuzɚ ˈɪntɚfˌeɪs/
fixed phrase
technical
software interface easy to use
A computer screen and controls that people can use easily without reading a manual.
Examples
- Customers expect an intuitive user interface on mobile apps.
- We redesigned the site to create a more intuitive user interface.
make it more intuitive
1/mˈeɪk ˈɪt mˈɔɹ ɪntˈuətɪv/
fixed phrase
change so it is easier to use
To change something so people can understand or use it more easily, without help.
Examples
- We need to make it more intuitive before we launch the product.
- The teacher changed the exercise to make it more intuitive for beginners.
not very intuitive
1/nˈɑt vˈɛɹi ɪntˈuətɪv/
fixed phrase
hard to understand or use naturally
Used to say that something is not easy to understand or use without help.
Examples
- The controls on this machine are not very intuitive.
- The new grading system is not very intuitive for students.