instinct
noun
an inborn pattern of activity or tendency to action common to a given biological species.
instincts
-
pluralof instinct.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What Huestis wants to see is whether an intern possesses, or can pick up, the instincts to work in a hospital setting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Maybe someday, Roth will temper his empty-calories instincts and make more of a meal out of his twisted ideas.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
His collaging instincts are still present, but here his visions are laced with a mystery that draws us in.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
It was not as though the open air of a farmers market was going to cure my base shopping instincts.
From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026
I felt myself struggling to awake to some call of my instincts; nay, my very soul was struggling, and my half-remembered sensibilities were striving to answer the call.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
