Dictionary
insight
noun in·sight \ˈin-ˌsīt\
: the ability to understand people and situations in a very clear way
: an understanding of the true nature of something
Full Definition of INSIGHT
1
: the power or act of seeing into a situation : penetration
2
: the act or result of apprehending the inner nature of things or of seeing intuitively
See insight defined for English-language learners
See insight defined for kids
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Examples of INSIGHT
- … I had a big insight and a little insight about the book. —Rust Hills, Esquire, April 1973
- … realizing this gave me no insight into how to correct it. —Bartley McSwine, Change, May–June 1971
- … might well offer fresh insights as to the character and extent of the social adaptation involved. —George C. Barker, ETC, Summer 1945
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First Known Use of INSIGHT
13th century
Related to INSIGHT
- Synonyms
- discernment, wisdom, perception, perceptiveness, perceptivity, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sapience
Synonym Discussion of INSIGHT
discernment, discrimination, perception, penetration, insight, acumen mean a power to see what is not evident to the average mind. discernment stresses accuracy (as in reading character or motives or appreciating art) <the discernment to know true friends>. discrimination stresses the power to distinguish and select what is true or appropriate or excellent <the discrimination that develops through listening to a lot of great music>. perception implies quick and often sympathetic discernment (as of shades of feeling) <a novelist of keen perception into human motives>. penetration implies a searching mind that goes beyond what is obvious or superficial <lacks the penetration to see the scorn beneath their friendly smiles>. insight suggests depth of discernment coupled with understanding sympathy <a documentary providing insight into the plight of the homeless>. acumen implies characteristic penetration combined with keen practical judgment <a director of reliable box-office acumen>.
Rhymes with INSIGHT
affright, air right, airtight, albite, Albright, alight, all right, all-night, a mite, aright, backbite, backlight, bauxite, bedight, birthright, black light, bleed white, bobwhite, bombsight, box kite, calcite, campsite, catfight, cockfight, contrite, cordite, Cushite, daylight, deadlight, delight, dendrite, despite, dogfight, downlight, downright, droplight, dust mite, earthlight, excite, eyebright, eyesight, fanlight, felsite, ferrite, finite, fire blight, firefight, firelight, first night, fistfight, flashlight, fleabite, floodlight, foresight, forthright, fortnight, freewrite, frostbite, Gadite, gall mite, gaslight, gastight, ghostwrite, goethite, graphite, green light, gummite, gunfight, half-light, halite, Hamite, handwrite, headlight, highlight, hindsight, Hittite, homesite, hoplite, Hussite, ignite, illite, infight, in-flight, incite, indict, indite, in sight, invite, jacklight, jadeite, key light, lamplight, late blight, leucite, Levite, lighttight, lignite, limelight, lintwhite, lowlight, Lucite, Luddite, lyddite, marmite, Melchite, Memphite, midnight, millwright, moonlight, New Right, night-light, nitrite, off-site, off-white, on sight, on-site, outright, outsight, partite, peep sight, penlight, perlite, playwright, polite, preflight, prizefight, pyrite, quartzite, ratite, recite, red light, red-light, requite, respite, rewrite, rushlight, rust mite, safelight, samite, searchlight, Semite, Servite, Shemite, Shiite, shipwright, sidelight, sit tight, skintight, skylight, skywrite, slant height, smectite, snakebite, snow-white, sound bite, spaceflight, spotlight, stage fright, starlight, sternite, sticktight, stoplight, streetlight, stylite, sulfite, sunlight, Sunnite, taillight, termite, thermite, tonight, torchlight, trothplight, Twelfth Night, twilight, twi-night, typewrite, unite, unsight, upright, uptight, wainwright, watch night, wax light, Web site, weeknight, wheelwright, white flight, white knight, x-height, zinc white
INSIGHT Defined for Kids
insight
noun in·sight \ˈin-ˌsīt\
Definition of INSIGHT for Kids
1
: the ability to understand a person or a situation very clearly
2
: the understanding of the truth of a situation
Medical Dictionary
insight
noun in·sight \ˈin-ˌsīt\
Medical Definition of INSIGHT
1
: understanding or awareness of one's mental or emotional condition; especially : recognition that one is mentally ill
2
: immediate and clear understanding (as seeing the solution to a problem or the means to reaching a goal) that takes place without recourse to overt trial-and-error behavior
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