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

Sister Jen is one of the foremost academy students, who displays an uncanny level of common sense, uncensored intuition, and outspokenness that might make her one of the frontrunners to claim a leadership role should tragedy befall her stoic-but-flawed mentors, Valya and Tula. —Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 Dec. 2024

Foster a collaborative environment where human intuition complements AI capabilities. —Daria Rudnik, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024

While this journey will unfold over the course of this year, Mars stationing direct on February 23 will strengthen your connection to your intuition, gearing you up for openness and forgiveness as the year wears on. —Roya Backlund, StyleCaster, 23 Dec. 2024

This is followed by a full moon in Cancer, balancing Capricorn’s ambition and practicality with this Water sign’s empathy and intuition. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 21 Dec. 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