intuitive
Americanadjective
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perceiving directly by intuition without rational thought, as a person or the mind.
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perceived by, resulting from, or involving intuition.
intuitive knowledge.
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having or possessing intuition.
an intuitive person.
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capable of being perceived or known by intuition.
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easy to understand or operate without explicit instruction.
an intuitive design;
an intuitive interface.
adjective
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resulting from intuition
an intuitive awareness
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of, characterized by, or involving intuition
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of intuitive
From the Medieval Latin word intuitīvus, dating back to 1585–95. See intuition, -ive
Explanation
If you're intuitive, you can probably guess what this word means just by looking at it. No? Maybe you're not so intuitive, after all. Intuitive means having the ability to understand or know something without any direct evidence or reasoning process. Psychics are intuitive. So are mothers when they know you're lying. A process can be said to be intuitive as well, if it can be easily learned without any prior training — like an easy-to-learn software program. In human beings, intuitiveness is often thought of as something more mystical, as in the ability psychics have to predict the future.
Vocabulary lists containing intuitive
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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.
But consistent with his claim that he has always “had an intuitive and uncanny ability to help others with interpersonal problems,” the approach of “The 25th Hour” is more instinctual than evidence-based.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
In fact, I think becoming a more intuitive cook often involves this kind of looking inward.
From Salon ● Aug. 25, 2026
Using the blower to herd balls around the park feels fairly intuitive, though naturally I'm much clumsier and slower than the pro landscapers.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
The movie has invented its own intuitive archetype, so that now they all find themselves saying, “That’s so ‘wrong girls’” in certain situations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
I was just trying to look at intuitive judgment processes.”
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
