intuition

noun

in·​tu·​i·​tion ˌin-tü-ˈi-shən 

-tyü-

1

a

: the power or faculty of attaining to direct knowledge or cognition without evident rational thought and inference

b

: immediate apprehension or cognition

c

: knowledge or conviction gained by intuition

2

: quick and ready insight

intuitional

ˌin-tü-ˈi-sh(ə-)nəl 

-tyü-

adjective

Examples of intuition in a Sentence

Intuition was telling her that something was very wrong.

“How did you know I would drop by?” “Oh, I don't know. It must have been intuition.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Free Daily and Monthly Horoscopes Read the full Aries Daily Horoscope Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Faulty intuition? —USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024

Call it the intuition of the great-great-granddaughter of a Sicilian witch. —Jo Piazza, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2024

Up until the 1980s, hedge funds were mostly run by Wall Street veterans who used their intuition and connections to make investment decisions. —Ray Zhou, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Dawson Addis becomes team captain, contestants' intuition put to the test This week's challenge was all about putting contestants' intuition to the test. —Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2024

His intuition and innovative use of quality materials turned Gucci into the iconic brand featuring the double G logo. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024

With stiff competition and marketing restrictions looming, building a successful brand requires ingenuity, intuition and a deep understanding of the dynamics at play for the next generation of legal cannabis consumers in Canada. —Mario Naric, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2024

Li and Boyle’s intuition on the bus ride had been right. —Ben Brubaker, WIRED, 17 Mar. 2024

Gut feelings and intuition Michigan’s project proposal was one of eight selected by the American Bar Association’s Center on Children and the Law, which received funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to address race equity in the country’s child welfare systems. —Jennifer Brookland, Detroit Free Press, 4 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English intuycyon, from Late Latin intuition-, intuitio act of contemplating, from Latin intuēri to look at, contemplate, from in- + tuēri to look at

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

intuition

noun

in·​tu·​ition

ˌin-t(y)u̇-ˈish-ən

1

: the power of knowing immediately and without conscious reasoning

2

: something known or understood at once

intuitional

-ˈish-nəl

-ən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

intuition

noun

in·​tu·​ition ˌin-t(y)u̇-ˈish-ən 

1

: immediate apprehension or cognition without reasoning or inferring

2

: knowledge or conviction gained by intuition

3

: the power or faculty of gaining direct knowledge or cognition without evident rational thought and inference

intuit

in-ˈt(y)ü-ət 

transitive verb

intuitional

ˌin-t(y)u̇-ˈish-nəl, -ən-ᵊl 

adjective

intuitive

in-ˈt(y)ü-ət-iv 

adjective

intuitively adverb