sense

play

noun \ ˈsen(t)s \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of sense

1 :a meaning conveyed or intended :import, signification; especially :one of a set of meanings a word or phrase may bear especially as segregated in a dictionary entry

2 a :the faculty of perceiving by means of sense organs

b :a specialized function or mechanism (such as sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch) by which an animal receives and responds to external or internal stimuli

c :the sensory mechanisms constituting a unit distinct from other functions (such as movement or thought)

3 :conscious awareness or rationality —usually used in plural

finally came to his senses

4 a :a particular sensation or kind or quality of sensation

a good sense of balance

b :a definite but often vague awareness or impression

felt a sense of insecurity

a sense of danger

c :a motivating awareness

a sense of shame

d :a discerning awareness and appreciation

her sense of humor

5 :consensus

the sense of the meeting

6 a :capacity for effective application of the powers of the mind as a basis for action or response :intelligence

b :sound mental capacity and understanding typically marked by shrewdness and practicality; also :agreement with or satisfaction of such power

this decision makes sense

7 :one of two opposite directions especially of motion (as of a point, line, or surface)

See sense defined for English-language learners

See sense defined for kids

Examples of sense in a Sentence

There is an unnerving sense now that technology is driving the culture rather than the reverse. Machines and sites and software are breeding at an exponential clip, and we hapless humans race around trying to adapt. —Steven Johnson, Discover, July 2006
The caricature of neurotic nuns who specialized in corporal punishment and guilt crumbles before the countless examples of women religious who made the difference in determining that a child would eat, or be safe, or have any sense of dignity at all. —Luke Timothy Johnson, Commonweal, 22 Sept. 2006
Because Updike shrinks from giving any real credence to the ideology that drives his plot (in both senses of that word), the book becomes a temporarily enthralling, but ultimately empty shaggy dog story. —Jonathan Raban, New York Review of Books, 13 July 2006
Less distinguished people experience a similar tangling of the senses, some reporting that they can taste the words they speak or see the colors of certain words or numbers. This confounding of perception—called synesthesia—was thought to affect at most about 4 percent of the population, but University College London psychologist Jamie Ward has uncovered the best evidence yet that we may all have a bit of synesthesia. —Kathryn Garfield, Discover, December 2006
All of my senses were on the alert for danger.
We had a sense that something wasn't quite right.
His senses were clear despite his illness.

Recent Examples of sense from the Web

But what public menace prompted local officials to write a law punishing lapses in common sense?

— fredrick kunkle, Washington Post, "‘Walking while black’ with a Louisiana twist: 3 pedestrians run over by a truck get run over by the law," 30 Aug. 2017
Of course, before scrutinizing the HSA plan your employer offers, make sure such an account makes sense for you in the first place.

— gail marksjarvis, charlotteobserver, "As open enrollment approaches, here’s how to pick the right health-savings account," 30 Aug. 2017
Every person that has any sense at all understands domestic violence and abhors it.

— clarence e. hill jr., star-telegram, "Elliott testifies at appeal; Jerry Jones maintains NFL has no evidence," 29 Aug. 2017
The event was launched in 1980 to celebrate the small, diverse city's various cultures and to stoke a sense of neighborliness and community pride.

— jeff milo, Detroit Free Press, "2nd album on the way at last from offbeat rapper JP from the HP," 29 Aug. 2017
Whoever the quarterback is on Sept. 10, this much can be said after Saturday night: The Colts will enter that game with a greater sense of confidence.

— stephen holder, Indianapolis Star, "Insider: Tolzien has best performance of preseason for Colts but Morris still in running," 26 Aug. 2017
THE OBVIOUS STUFF: Common sense dictates that Mayweather will be too fast, too precise and too experienced to get hurt by McGregor.

— martin rogers, The Courier-Journal, "Mayweather vs. McGregor: Fight guide, time, expert preview," 26 Aug. 2017
The change will impose new requirements that many researchers say don’t make sense and could stifle cognitive neuroscience.

— jocelyn kaiser, Science | AAAS, "Basic studies of how our brains work are now clinical trials, NIH says," 25 Aug. 2017
Common sense indicates what makes boxing particularly dangerous is the volume of punches a fighter can take.

— dylan hernandez, latimes.com, "Mayweather-McGregor isn't just a mismatch; it might be dangerous," 24 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sense.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sense

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French sen, sens sensation, feeling, mechanism of perception, meaning, from Latin sensus, from sentire to perceive, feel; perhaps akin to Old High German sinnan to go, strive, Old English sith journey — more at send

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

sense Synonyms

Synonyms

feel, feeling, sensation

Antonyms

imprudence, indiscretion

Related Words

impression, perception; hint, suggestion, touch

Near Antonyms

denseness, density, doltishness, dopiness, dullness (also dulness), dumbness, fatuity, feeblemindedness, foolishness, half-wittedness, idiocy, imbecility, senselessness, simpleness, slowness, stupidity

Synonym Discussion of sense

sense, common sense, judgment, wisdom mean ability to reach intelligent conclusions. sense implies a reliable ability to judge and decide with soundness, prudence, and intelligence.

- a choice showing good sense

common sense suggests an average degree of such ability without sophistication or special knowledge.

- common sense tells me it's wrong

judgment implies sense tempered and refined by experience, training, and maturity.

- they relied on her judgment for guidance

wisdom implies sense and judgment far above average.

- a leader of rare wisdom

sense

verb

Definition of sense

sensed; sensing

transitive verb

1 a :to perceive by the senses (see ¹sense 2)

b :to be or become conscious of

sense danger

2 :grasp, comprehend

3 :to detect automatically especially in response to a physical stimulus (such as light or movement)

See sense defined for English-language learners

Examples of sense in a Sentence

The latest feature on air conditioners is a big new plug to help prevent fires. The plug shuts down power when it senses that the air conditioner cord is damaged. —Consumer Reports, July 2005
With very little provocation, magic might have been flying back and forth in an unpleasant and damaging manner. Sensing the danger, Kate stepped between them and raised her hands. "Let us have no more of this. There is a confusion to be cleared up, and I cannot do that in the middle of a brannigan," she said. —John Morressy, Fantasy & Science Fiction, October/November 2004
In Pecnik, he had instantly sensed a kindred spirit. As a boy Pecnik had strapped homemade parachutes to hamsters and tossed them (without harm) from his sixth-story bedroom window; by the time he joined the Croatian national team he was making his own jumpsuits. —William Speed Weed, Popular Science, July 2003
She immediately sensed my dislike.
A motion detector can sense movement.

Recent Examples of sense from the Web

Sensing Pindell has been a little tight, Edsall has urged him to have fun and play without too much overanalysis.

— mike anthony, courant.com, "As Usual, Questions About The Offense Surface As UConn Opener Approaches," 29 Aug. 2017
Davis responds with stout effort Perhaps sensing the need for a strong performance, Glendale High alumnus Michael Davis turned in arguably his best effort of the preseason Saturday afternoon.

— staff reports, Glendale News-Press, "Sports Briefs: Hoover football game cancelled," 29 Aug. 2017
Sensing that the 16-year-old might not survive, detectives asked him to identify the one who had left him mortally wounded.

— dan rodricks, baltimoresun.com, "For Baltimore, a long way out of this mess," 11 Aug. 2017
Ramirez sensed it as early as 2004 while a freshman at Trinity, amid an early wave of apartment construction.

— kenneth r. gosselin, Courant Community, "Trinity Grad Plans Hartford's First Downtown Condos In Over A Decade," 7 Aug. 2017
Big insurers also increasingly sense more opportunity and growth in other government markets, such as Medicaid managed care and Medicare Advantage plans.

— anna gorman, Kaiser Health News, "Anthem’s Retreat Leaves Californians With Fewer Choices, More Worries," 2 Aug. 2017
Ross must have sensed the role would be a turning point for Elliott.

— samantha drake, Country Living, "Sam Elliott and Katharine Ross Are One of Hollywood's Most Enduring Couples," 13 July 2017
IMUs are, in other words, adept at sensing alterations in motion and path, while being poor at registering speed or distance travelled.

— The Economist, "Amusement parksVirtual reality gives old fairground rides new purpose," 13 July 2017
Young inner-city mothers instinctively sense the positive effects charter schools can have.

— r. claire friend, Orange County Register, "Charter schools can save public education," 18 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of sense

see ¹sense

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1598

See Words from the same year

sense Synonyms

Synonyms

perceive, scent, see, feel, smell, taste

Antonyms

miss

Related Words

behold, descry, discern, distinguish, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, perceive, regard, remark, sight, spy, view, witness; ascertain, catch on (to), discover, find out, hear, learn, realize; anticipate, divine, expect, foreknow, foresee; assume, conjecture, guess, presume, speculate, suppose, surmise, suspect

Near Antonyms

misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstand

SENSE Defined for English Language Learners

sense

play

noun

Definition of sense for English Language Learners

: one of the five natural powers (touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing) through which you receive information about the world around you
: a physical feeling : something that your body experiences
: a particular feeling : an emotion that you are aware of

sense

verb

Definition of sense for English Language Learners

: to understand or be aware of (something) without being told about it or having evidence that it is true
of a machine : to detect the presence or occurrence of (something)

SENSE Defined for Kids

sense

play

noun \ ˈsens \

Definition of sense for Students

1 :a specialized function or mechanism (as sight, taste, or touch) of the body that involves the action and effect of a stimulus on a sense organ

2 :awareness arrived at through or as if through the senses

He felt a sense of danger.

3 :a particular sensation or kind of sensation

I lost my sense of balance.

4 :the ability to make wise decisions

5 :an awareness or understanding of something

a sense of humor

a sense of pride

6 :a reason or excuse based on intelligence or good judgment

There is no sense in continuing.

7 :a logical, sensible, or practical thing, act, or way of doing

Saving money for the future makes sense.

8 :a meaning or one of a set of meanings a word, phrase, or story may have

sense

verb

Definition of sense for Students

sensed; sensing

:to be or become aware of

My cat can sense the approach of a storm.

Medical Dictionary

sense

play

noun \ ˈsen(t)s \

medical Definition of sense

1 a :the faculty of perceiving by means of sense organs

b :a specialized function or mechanism (as sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch) by which an animal receives and responds to external or internal stimuli

c :the sensory mechanisms constituting a unit distinct from other functions (as movement or thought)

2 :a particular sensation or kind or quality of sensation

a good sense of balance

sense

transitive verb

medical Definition of sense

sensed; sensing

:to perceive by the senses

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See words that rhyme with sense Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sense Spanish Central: Translation of sense Nglish: Translation of sense for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sense for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sense

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sense

Definition of sense

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Recent Examples of sense from the Web

Origin and Etymology of sense

sense Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

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SENSE Defined for English Language Learners

sense

Definition of sense for English Language Learners

sense

Definition of sense for English Language Learners

SENSE Defined for Kids

sense

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sense

Definition of sense for Students

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sense

medical Definition of sense

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