sense

1 of 2

noun

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
3
: to detect automatically especially in response to a physical stimulus (such as light or movement)
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
What sets Charlize apart is her innate sense of professionalism and adaptability, qualities that characterize her as an exceptional talent ready for the challenges of the theatrical world. Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024 What is becoming professionally demoralizing to her lately, though, is the sense that female artists are being removed from America’s comics pages as several newspaper chains have consolidated or contracted their print funnies in recent years. Michael Cavna, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 The fun and creativity and originality and senses of excellence and humor are leaving our games. Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024 Consider what makes the most sense and head in that direction. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024 Often in a supermajority Statehouse, there's the sense that outcomes are predetermined before the final vote. Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Mar. 2024 There’s a sense of all things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small being worthy of life, despite what the film’s resident bigots and bullies might think. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024 But with no guides at the lead, though, there's still a sense of independence. Erin Gifford, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2024 When the involuntary manslaughter trial begins this week for the father of the Oxford school shooter, the Michigan courtroom will be heavy with a sense of déjà vu. Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024
Verb
Cook sensed her discomfort and sent the other players home. Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2024 But the new cells may sense oxygen as Norn cells do. Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 When the government came to power in late 2022, forming the most right-wing coalition in Israel’s history, the Haredim sensed an opportunity. Mick Krever, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 All of Us Strangers is deeply affecting in its melancholy, its intricate study of the furrows and sense memories of grief. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2024 Even as a young child, Morgan could sense when her mom was heading toward another exacerbation. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2024 Tests of the probe’s sonar, radar, and conductivity sensing capabilities showed proof of concept that the system works. IEEE Spectrum, 4 Mar. 2024 This works fabulously on hard flooring, as the vacuum can sense where crumbs may be collecting in the grout in tile floors or pick up any debris lodged under bits of natural wood. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 Far more likely is that Trump senses a political arbitrage opportunity by taking a do-no-harm approach to bitcoin and digital assets more broadly. Sam Lyman, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sense.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sense was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near sense

Cite this Entry

“Sense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sense. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sense

1 of 2 noun
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
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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on sense

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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