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introvert

[noun, adjective in-truh-vurt; verb in-truh-vurt]
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noun
  1. a shy person.
  2. Psychology. a person characterized by concern primarily with his or her own thoughts and feelings (opposed to extrovert).
  3. Zoology. a part that is or can be introverted.
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adjective
  1. Psychology. marked by introversion.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to turn inward: to introvert one's anger.
  2. Psychology. to direct (the mind, one's interest, etc.) partly to things within the self.
  3. Anatomy, Zoology. to turn (a hollow, cylindrical structure) in on itself; invaginate.
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Origin of introvert

First recorded in 1660–70; intro- + (in)vert
Related formsnon·in·tro·vert·ed, adjectivenon·in·tro·vert·ed·ly, adverbnon·in·tro·vert·ed·ness, nounun·in·tro·vert·ed, adjective
Can be confusedextrovert introvert
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

revertconvertcapsizerenegebacktracktransposetipmodifyupsetflipturnflip-flopintrovertoverturnalterchangeupendevertinverseupturn

Examples from the Web for introverting

Historical Examples

  • I felt my mind flinch, because Introverting a Place is several degrees worse than foxholing.

    The Big Time

    Fritz Reuter Leiber

British Dictionary definitions for introverting

introvert

noun (ˈɪntrəˌvɜːt)
  1. psychol a person prone to introversion
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adjective (ˈɪntrəˌvɜːt)
  1. Also: introverted characterized by introversion
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verb (ˌɪntrəˈvɜːt)
  1. (tr) pathol to turn (a hollow organ or part) inside out
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Compare extrovert

Word Origin

C17: see intro-, invert
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for introverting

introvert

v.

1650s, from Latin intro- "inward" (see intro-) + vertere "to turn" (see versus). The noun, "introverted person" (opposed to extrovert) is 1918, from German psychology, introduced there by C.G. Jung (1875-1961).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
introverting in Medicine

introvert

(ĭn′trə-vûrt′, ĭn′trə-vûrt′)
v.
  1. To turn or direct inward.
  2. To concentrate one's interests upon oneself.
  3. To turn a tubular organ or part inward upon itself.
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n.
  1. One whose thoughts and feelings are directed toward oneself.
  2. An anatomical structure that is capable of being introverted.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
introverting in Culture

introvert

[(in-truh-vurt)]

A term introduced by the psychologist Carl Jung to describe a person whose motives and actions are directed inward. Introverts tend to be preoccupied with their own thoughts and feelings and minimize their contact with other people. (Compare extrovert.)

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The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.