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Synonyms

intuitive

American  
[in-too-i-tiv, -tyoo-] / ɪnˈtu ɪ tɪv, -ˈtyu- /

adjective

  1. perceiving directly by intuition without rational thought, as a person or the mind.

  2. perceived by, resulting from, or involving intuition.

    intuitive knowledge.

    Synonyms:
    natural, inborn, innate
  3. having or possessing intuition.

    an intuitive person.

  4. capable of being perceived or known by intuition.

  5. easy to understand or operate without explicit instruction.

    an intuitive design;

    an intuitive interface.


intuitive British  
/ ɪnˈtjuːɪtɪv /

adjective

  1. resulting from intuition

    an intuitive awareness

  2. of, characterized by, or involving intuition

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived 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.

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Vocabulary lists containing intuitive

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 it's one thing for something to be intuitive. It's quite another to show that it's happening with real-world data."

From Science Daily • Jan. 24, 2024

“It’s intuitive. It’s common sense. I don’t understand the pushback.”

From Washington Times • Jan. 17, 2022

“Once you understand them, it may be common sense, but it’s not intuitive. And so most people, myself included, do not have a comprehensive understanding or even any understanding of how elections work.”

From Seattle Times • Oct. 14, 2021

“It’s intuitive. If there are a lot of kids around for an event, the door is locked. If it’s a funeral, the door is unlocked.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2018

“You know, I’m dead scared of that man. Oh, not the valet—the other—his master. Master, indeed! There’s something wrong about that man. My daughter always says I’m very intuitive.

From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie

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