instinctively
ihn-STIHNGK-tihv-lee
Instinctively (adv) means Automatically, by instinct, without stopping to think or being taught. Example: “She instinctively ducked as the ball flew toward her.”
adv
1
Automatically, by instinct, without stopping to think or being taught.
"Fish instinctively know how to swim; most humans don't."
"While Conservative and Labour MPs instinctively had deep political differences, they were united in the cold view that at the end of the 1950s, Britain's railways were friendless and almost finished."
— Howard Johnston, Was Marples the real railway wrecker? (2023)
"'I am, perhaps, overgreedy, but I sense a good cook instinctively.'"
— Agatha Christie (1934)
"She instinctively ducked as the ball flew toward her."
How to use instinctively
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDone on impulse, without conscious decision-making.
Common pairings
instinctively knew
instinctively reach for
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more instinctively
- Superlative
- most instinctively
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ ducked as the ball flew toward her.
Rhymes for instinctively
See all rhymes for instinctively →Frequently asked questions
What does “instinctively” mean?
The word “instinctively” means automatically, by instinct, without stopping to think or being taught. In plain terms, done on impulse, without conscious decision-making.
How do you pronounce “instinctively”?
“Instinctively” is pronounced ihn-STIHNGK-tihv-lee (/ɪnˈstɪŋktɪvli/ in IPA).
How do you use “instinctively” in a sentence?
Here is “instinctively” used in a sentence: “She instinctively ducked as the ball flew toward her.”
What part of speech is “instinctively”?
“Instinctively” is an adverb.
Is “instinctively” a common word?
“Instinctively” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
