intuition

noun

in·​tu·​i·​tion ˌin-tü-ˈi-shən How to pronounce intuition (audio)
-tyü-
Synonyms of intuition
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 How to pronounce intuition (audio)
-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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That claim was intuition but the cost figures above provide the proof. — Navin Chaddha, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 In other words, human beings were setting rent prices based on intuition or local knowledge, not algorithmic optimization. — Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026 Now, the job is about managing the friction between human intuition and machine scale. — Alexandra J. Zanela, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Propagating the Chair To understand the geometric intuition behind the Chair44 shape, Tsiokos says, imagine a large cube composed of eight tiny cubes that are joined together. — Rachel Crowell, Scientific American, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for intuition

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of intuition was circa 1600

Rhymes for intuition

See All Rhymes for intuition

Browse Nearby Words

intuitable
intuition
intuitional
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intuition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intuition. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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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 How to pronounce intuition (audio)
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 How to pronounce intuition (audio)
transitive verb
intuitional
ˌin-t(y)u̇-ˈish-nəl, -ən-ᵊl How to pronounce intuition (audio)
adjective
intuitive
in-ˈt(y)ü-ət-iv How to pronounce intuition (audio)
adjective
intuitively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on intuition

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for intuition

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about intuition

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