sense

1 of 2

noun

ˈsen(t)s 

1

: a meaning conveyed or intended : import, signification

especially : one of a set of meanings a word or phrase may bear especially as segregated in a dictionary entry

2

a

: the faculty of perceiving by means of sense organs

b

: a specialized function or mechanism (such as sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch) by which an animal receives and responds to external or internal stimuli

c

: the sensory mechanisms constituting a unit distinct from other functions (such as movement or thought)

3

: conscious awareness or rationality

—usually used in plural

finally came to his senses

4

a

: a particular sensation or kind or quality of sensation

a good sense of balance

b

: a definite but often vague awareness or impression

felt a sense of insecurity

a sense of danger

c

: a motivating awareness

a sense of shame

d

: a discerning awareness and appreciation

her sense of humor

5

: consensus

the sense of the meeting

6

a

: capacity for effective application of the powers of the mind as a basis for action or response : intelligence

b

: sound mental capacity and understanding typically marked by shrewdness and practicality

also : agreement with or satisfaction of such power

this decision makes sense

7

: one of two opposite directions especially of motion (as of a point, line, or surface)

sense

2 of 2

verb

sensed; sensing

transitive verb

1

a

: to perceive by the senses (see sense entry 1 sense 2)

b

: to be or become conscious of

sense danger

2

: grasp, comprehend

3

: to detect automatically especially in response to a physical stimulus (such as light or movement)

Synonyms

Noun

• feel
• feeling
• sensation

Verb

• feel
• perceive
• scent
• see
• smell
• taste

Choose the Right Synonym for sense

sense, common sense, judgment, wisdom mean ability to reach intelligent conclusions.

sense implies a reliable ability to judge and decide with soundness, prudence, and intelligence.

a choice showing good sense

common sense suggests an average degree of such ability without sophistication or special knowledge.

common sense tells me it's wrong

judgment implies sense tempered and refined by experience, training, and maturity.

they relied on her judgment for guidance

wisdom implies sense and judgment far above average.

a leader of rare wisdom

Examples of sense in a Sentence

Noun

There is an unnerving sense now that technology is driving the culture rather than the reverse. Machines and sites and software are breeding at an exponential clip, and we hapless humans race around trying to adapt. —Steven Johnson, Discover, July 2006

The caricature of neurotic nuns who specialized in corporal punishment and guilt crumbles before the countless examples of women religious who made the difference in determining that a child would eat, or be safe, or have any sense of dignity at all. —Luke Timothy Johnson, Commonweal, 22 Sept. 2006

Because Updike shrinks from giving any real credence to the ideology that drives his plot (in both senses of that word), the book becomes a temporarily enthralling, but ultimately empty shaggy dog story. —Jonathan Raban, New York Review of Books, 13 July 2006

Less distinguished people experience a similar tangling of the senses, some reporting that they can taste the words they speak or see the colors of certain words or numbers. This confounding of perception—called synesthesia—was thought to affect at most about 4 percent of the population, but University College London psychologist Jamie Ward has uncovered the best evidence yet that we may all have a bit of synesthesia. —Kathryn Garfield, Discover, December 2006

All of my senses were on the alert for danger.

We had a sense that something wasn't quite right.

His senses were clear despite his illness.

Verb

The latest feature on air conditioners is a big new plug to help prevent fires. The plug shuts down power when it senses that the air conditioner cord is damaged. —Consumer Reports, July 2005

With very little provocation, magic might have been flying back and forth in an unpleasant and damaging manner. Sensing the danger, Kate stepped between them and raised her hands. "Let us have no more of this. There is a confusion to be cleared up, and I cannot do that in the middle of a brannigan," she said. —John Morressy, Fantasy & Science Fiction, October/November 2004

In Pecnik, he had instantly sensed a kindred spirit. As a boy Pecnik had strapped homemade parachutes to hamsters and tossed them (without harm) from his sixth-story bedroom window; by the time he joined the Croatian national team he was making his own jumpsuits. —William Speed Weed, Popular Science, July 2003

She immediately sensed my dislike.

A motion detector can sense movement.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The design will focus on early Santa Clara canning days, with Ainsley Family memorabilia to give it a sense of history. —Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024

People were waiting for roughly an hour and a half, and parking was extremely limited; this created a sense of repressed frustration in the air. —The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

Policy changes from the SEC are hard to predict, but the ETF industry appears to sense an opening to push new types of products. —Jesse Pound, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024

Even Juan Hernandez of Santa Clara, whose nose was broken by protesters while attending the 2016 Trump rally in his MAGA hat, senses a deeper animosity now than eight years ago. —Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French sen, sens sensation, feeling, mechanism of perception, meaning, from Latin sensus, from sentire to perceive, feel; perhaps akin to Old High German sinnan to go, strive, Old English sith journey — more at send

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing sense

• common sense
• false sense of security
• horse sense
• in a/one sense
• in every sense of the word
• in no sense
• in the strict/strictest sense (of the word)
• knock some sense into someone
• knock some sense into someone's head
• make (any) sense of
• make no sense
• make sense
• makes little/no sense
• not making much sense
• see sense
• sense-datum
• sense/feeling of loss
• sense of achievement
• sense of direction
• sense of humor
• sense of obligation
• sense of rhythm
• sense of self
• sense of self-worth
• sense organ
• sixth sense
• talk sense
• talk (some) sense into/to

Kids Definition

sense

1 of 2 noun

ˈsen(t)s 

1

: a meaning or one of a set of meanings a word, phrase, or story may have

2

a

: the power to become aware of by means of sense organs

b

: a specialized function or mechanism (as sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch) of the body that involves the action and effect of a stimulus on a sense organ

the pain sense

3

a

: a particular sensation or kind of sensation

a good sense of balance

b

: awareness arrived at through or as if through the senses

a vague sense of danger

c

: an awareness and appreciation of something

a fine sense of humor

4

a

: intelligence sense 1

b

: good reason or excuse

no sense in waiting

sense

2 of 2 verb

sensed; sensing

1

: to become aware of through the senses

2

: to be or become conscious of

sense danger

3

: to detect automatically especially in response to a physical quantity (as light or movement)

Medical Definition

sense

1 of 2 noun

ˈsen(t)s 

1

a

: the faculty of perceiving by means of sense organs

b

: a specialized function or mechanism (as sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch) by which an animal receives and responds to external or internal stimuli

c

: the sensory mechanisms constituting a unit distinct from other functions (as movement or thought)

2

: a particular sensation or kind or quality of sensation

a good sense of balance

sense

2 of 2 transitive verb

sensed; sensing

: to perceive by the senses