instinctively

instinctively

English

Etymology

instinctive +‎ -ly

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪnˈstɪŋktɪvli/

• Audio (US)

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• Hyphenation: in‧stinc‧tive‧ly

Adverb

instinctively (comparative more instinctively, superlative most instinctively)

1. Innately; by instinct; without being taught.

   Fish instinctively know how to swim; most humans don't.

   • 1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, volume 1, London: James R. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., page 26:

     She loved him so passionately, and he was so godlike in her eyes; and being, though untrained, instinctively refined, her nature cried for his tutelary guidance.

   • 1934, Agatha Christie, chapter 9, in Murder on the Orient Express, London: HarperCollins, published 2017, page 270:

     'I am, perhaps, overgreedy, but I sense a good cook instinctively.'

Synonyms

• instinctually

Translations

innately, by instinct, without being taught

Catalan: instintivament Finnish: vaistonvaraisesti, vaistomaisesti (fi) German: unwillkürlich (de) Greek: ενστικτωδώς (el) (enstiktodós) Hungarian: ösztönösen (hu) Italian: istintivamente (it) Russian: инстинктивно (ru) (instinktivno) Spanish: instintivamente