sensation
noun
sen·sa·tion
sen-ˈsā-shən 
sən-
1
a
: a mental process (such as seeing, hearing, or smelling) resulting from the immediate external stimulation of a sense organ often as distinguished from a conscious awareness of the sensory process compare perception
b
: awareness (as of heat or pain) due to stimulation of a sense organ
c
: a state of consciousness due to internal bodily changes
a sensation of hunger
d
: an indefinite bodily feeling
a sensation of buoyancy
2
: something (such as a physical stimulus, sense-datum, or afterimage) that causes or is the object of sensation
3
a
: a state of excited interest or feeling
their elopement caused a sensation
b
: a cause of such excitement
the show was the musical sensation of the season
especially
: one (such as a person) in some respect exceptional or outstanding
the rookie hitting sensation of the American League
Examples of sensation in a Sentence
I experienced a stinging sensation in my arm.
She felt a burning sensation in her throat.
She craved new experiences and sensations.
She had the strange sensation that someone was watching her.
I couldn't quite shake the sensation that I'd been fooled.
Her injury left her with no sensation in her legs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Harrison Brunicke, the 19-year-old sensation the Penguins are strongly considering keeping at the NHL level all season, scored his first NHL goal to even the game in the second period.
—
Josh Yohe, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
YouTube sensation Trisha Paytas likes a career curveball.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
In 2019, the predecessor to ChatGPT was barely able to string a coherent sentence together; just three years later, fed with more data and computing power, ChatGPT became a world sensation.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Tasting whiskey involves a combination of sensations, including the nose, palate, mouthfeel, and finish.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sensation
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Josh Yohe, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
YouTube sensation Trisha Paytas likes a career curveball.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
In 2019, the predecessor to ChatGPT was barely able to string a coherent sentence together; just three years later, fed with more data and computing power, ChatGPT became a world sensation.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Tasting whiskey involves a combination of sensations, including the nose, palate, mouthfeel, and finish.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sensation
Cite this Entry
“Sensation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sensation. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sensation
noun
sen·sa·tion
sen-ˈsā-shən
sən-
1
a
: a mental process (as seeing, hearing, or smelling) that results from stimulation of a sense organ
b
: awareness (as of heat or pain) due to stimulation of a sense organ
c
: an indefinite bodily feeling
2
a
: a state of excited interest or feeling
b
: a cause of such excitement
Medical Definition
sensation
noun
sen·sa·tion
sen-ˈsā-shən, sən-
1
a
: a mental process (as seeing, hearing, or smelling) resulting from the immediate external stimulation of a sense organ often as distinguished from a conscious awareness of the sensory process compare perception
b
: awareness (as of heat or pain) due to stimulation of a sense organ
c
: a state of consciousness due to internal bodily changes
a sensation of hunger
2
: something (as a physical stimulus, sense-datum, pain, or afterimage) that causes or is the object of sensation
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