Phrase guide

gut reaction

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A visceral reaction that arises with little accompanying thought or even (sometimes) no thought.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Near-synonym: knee-jerk reaction
  • When he saw that lion leaping towards him, his gut reaction was to run.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: knee-jerk reaction

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 本能反應 /本能反应 (běnnéng fǎnyìng) — instantaneous reaction
  • Finnish: selkäydinreaktio — instantaneous reaction
  • German: Reaktion aus dem Bauch — instantaneous reaction
  • German: Reaktion aus dem Bauch heraus — instantaneous reaction
  • German: Bauchentscheidung — instantaneous reaction
  • German: instinktive Reaktion — instantaneous reaction