instinctively

Everyday

Instinctively means doing something naturally, without thinking about it or being taught, because you feel it is right or your body does it automatically. tree →

In the lessons

In science, animals act instinctively: birds build nests, spiders spin webs and baby turtles head to the sea without being taught. In safety, people instinctively pull a hand away from heat or put their arms out when falling. In stories, a character instinctively knows something is wrong or ducks out of the way. Phrases: act instinctively, know instinctively.

Examples

• She instinctively put her hands out when she fell. tree →
• Baby turtles instinctively crawl towards the sea. tree →
• I instinctively pulled my hand away from the hot pan. tree →
• He instinctively knew something was wrong. tree →
• The cat instinctively crouched when it saw the bird. tree →
• Birds instinctively know how to build nests. tree →

Note

Adverb from «instinctive»; noun «instinct». Spelling: in-stinc-tive-ly. Instinct is behaviour you are born with; learned behaviour, like reading, is not instinctive.