kinesthetic
Americanadjective
-
Psychology, Physiology. having to do with movement or sensation, especially within the body.
One quintessential spa experience was to go back and forth from the scalding hot pool to the ice cold pool, sending your body into a heightened kinesthetic state.
-
needing to move.
Some teachers feel that their most energetic and distractible students are actually kinesthetic learners, who need to get their whole body involved in the learning process.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of kinesthetic
First recorded in 1890–95 as kinæsthetic; kinesthe(sia) ( def. ) + -tic ( def. )
Explanation
If you're a wild dancer, you probably enjoy kinesthetic thrills: thrills having to do with the experience of movement. The adjective kinesthetic comes from the noun kinesthesia, which means the sensory perception of movement. Kinesthesia happens when the brain gets feedback from muscles and ligaments about how the body is moving. Dancing is a kinesthetic art form. If you're interested in kinesthetic questions, you might consider going into physical therapy as a career.
Vocabulary lists containing kinesthetic
Imagery, Figures of Speech, and Tone
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Dance - Middle School and High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Warrior Girl Unearthed
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
According to popular educational theory, some kids are what educators call tactile learners; they do especially well with a kinesthetic instruction that involves actively doing over passively absorbing.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 13, 2023
I was much more kinesthetic, much more into dance.
From Washington Post • Oct. 14, 2022
These works are immediately identifiable for the vibrant colors and kinesthetic geometry that have long marked Milhazes’ oeuvre.
From New York Times • Sep. 16, 2022
In proprioception, proprioceptive and kinesthetic signals travel through myelinated afferent neurons running from the spinal cord to the medulla.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
The ultimate goal is to develop total cognitive and kinesthetic awareness through sound.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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.
