Standard Lemma guide

instinctively

adv · 2 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.

  • /ɪnˈstɪŋktɪvli/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 N S T IH1 NG K T IH0 V L IY2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

Innately; by instinct; without being taught.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: instinctually

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

as a matter of instinct

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he instinctively grabbed the knife

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English instinctive Middle English -ly English -ly English instinctively From instinctive + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: غريزيًا — innately, by instinct, without being taught
  • Catalan: instintivament — innately, by instinct, without being taught
  • Dutch: instinctief — innately, by instinct, without being taught
  • Finnish: vaistonvaraisesti — innately, by instinct, without being taught
  • Finnish: vaistomaisesti — innately, by instinct, without being taught
  • French: instinctivement — innately, by instinct, without being taught
  • German: unwillkürlich — innately, by instinct, without being taught
  • Greek: ενστικτωδώς (enstiktodós) — innately, by instinct, without being taught
  • Hungarian: ösztönösen — innately, by instinct, without being taught
  • Italian: istintivamente — innately, by instinct, without being taught
  • Polish: instynktownie — innately, by instinct, without being taught
  • Russian: инстинктивно (instinktivno) — innately, by instinct, without being taught
  • Spanish: instintivamente — innately, by instinct, without being taught
  • Swedish: instinktivt — innately, by instinct, without being taught