in·stinct 
/ˈɪnˌstɪŋkt/ noun
plural in·stincts /ˈɪnˌstɪŋkt/ noun 1 a : a way of behaving, thinking, or feeling that is not learned : a natural desire or tendency that makes you want to act in a particular way [count] ▪ Our first instinct was to run. ▪ Cats possess a natural hunting instinct. ▪ Seeing the baby aroused all her maternal instincts. [noncount] ▪ The decision was based on (gut) instinct. — see also killer instinct
b : something you know without learning it or thinking about it [count] ▪ Her instincts told her that something was wrong. [=she believed that something was wrong even though there was no obvious reason to believe it] ▪ You have to learn to trust/follow your instincts. [=to trust your feelings about what is right or true even when you cannot be sure that it is right or true] ▪ He has been guided throughout his career by his political instincts. [noncount] ▪ Mere instinct alerted her to the danger. ▪ He knew by instinct what not to say. ▪ She seemed to know by instinct that something was wrong. — compare intuition 2 [count] : a natural ability
▪ He has a strong survival instinct. ▪ an athlete with good instincts — often + for ▪ He has a strong instinct for survival. ▪ She has a natural instinct for making the right decisions in her job. — sometimes followed by to + verb ▪ a strong instinct to survive
b : something you know without learning it or thinking about it [count] ▪ Her instincts told her that something was wrong. [=she believed that something was wrong even though there was no obvious reason to believe it] ▪ You have to learn to trust/follow your instincts. [=to trust your feelings about what is right or true even when you cannot be sure that it is right or true] ▪ He has been guided throughout his career by his political instincts. [noncount] ▪ Mere instinct alerted her to the danger. ▪ He knew by instinct what not to say. ▪ She seemed to know by instinct that something was wrong. — compare intuition
▪ He has a strong survival instinct. ▪ an athlete with good instincts — often + for ▪ He has a strong instinct for survival. ▪ She has a natural instinct for making the right decisions in her job. — sometimes followed by to + verb ▪ a strong instinct to survive
