Intuitively

/ɪnˈtjuːɪtɪvli/

adverbmediumCommonGeneral

Definitions

1

In a way that is understood or known without conscious reasoning; instinctively.

/ɪnˈtjuːɪtɪvli/

adverbneutralmedium
General

In a way that is based on or agrees with intuition.

He chose the correct answer intuitively, without studying.

💡 Simply: It's like when you just *know* something without thinking about it, like you understand it right away. Imagine you're drawing and you just *know* how the lines should go, or you know your friend is sad before they even say anything. That's intuitively!

👶 For kids: It means you know something without having to think about it. It's like a feeling in your tummy that tells you something is right!

More Examples

2

She grasped the concept intuitively after only a few minutes.

3

The design is so simple that it is used intuitively.

How It's Used

Psychology

"She intuitively understood his unspoken needs."

Technology

"The software is designed to be used intuitively."

From Late Latin *intuitivus*, from *intueri* 'to look at, contemplate,' from *in-* 'in, on' + *tuēri* 'to look at.' The '-ly' suffix indicates an adverbial form.

The word 'intuitively' and its related forms saw an increase in usage during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coinciding with the rise of psychology and the study of human cognition.

Memory tip

Imagine a gut feeling, a knowing without clear logic. That's how something is done intuitively.

Word Origin

Root: *intueri*

intuitivleyintutively

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written