intuit

American  

[in-too-it, -tyoo-, in-too-it, -tyoo-] / ɪnˈtu ɪt, -ˈtyu-, ˈɪn tu ɪt, -tyu- /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to know or receive by intuition.

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intuit British  

/ ɪnˈtjuːɪt /

verb

1. to know or discover by intuition

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Other Word Forms

• intuitable adjective
• unintuitable adjective

Etymology

Origin of intuit

First recorded in 1770–80; back formation from intuition

Explanation

To intuit is to get a strong sense of something using only your intuition. You might give up on a job interview halfway through, if you intuit that the job wouldn't be a good fit for you. When you have a hunch about something, you intuit. For example, a pregnant woman might intuit that she's having twins, and a teacher might intuit that a student is having a hard day and needs some extra attention. The earliest meaning of intuit was "to tutor," until the mid-19th century. The word comes from the Latin root intueri, "look at, comprehend, or contemplate."

Example Sentences

I look for patterns and try to intuit a policy out of the behavior and the decisions.

From Slate • May 24, 2025

Yet in an era where researchers are modeling rat brains on computers and showing that our canine pals may be able to intuit our thoughts, livestock remain a black box.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 7, 2023

It drives home a point we already intuit: the dialogue is incidental when the dancing is this expressive.

From New York Times • Jun. 1, 2023

A reader of the original "An Everlasting Meal" can intuit what the cookbook version looks like.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2023

Theo gives a formal bow at the neck, which he must intuit would appeal to my father’s sense of respect and decorum.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse