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insight

noun
in·​sight | \ ˈin-ËŒsÄ«t How to pronounce insight (audio) \

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
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Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of insight in a Sentence

… 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 He is a leader of great insight. The author analyzes the problem with remarkable insight. I had a sudden insight. Her book provides us with fresh new insights into this behavior.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Now, as renewable energy grows in popularity, scientists and engineers are looking to nature for insights into designing wind, marine and solar energy devices in a way that increases efficiency and reduces environmental impact. — Shweta Narayan, Smithsonian, "How Engineers of New Energy Technology Are Taking Cues From Nature," 31 Aug. 2019 The Farmers' Almanac forecast looks back to a time when people observed things going on with plants, animals and other aspects of the environment to get insight on what was happening with the weather. — Weldon B. Johnson, azcentral, "Farmers' vs. Farmer's: What the almanacs are predicting for winter 2019," 29 Aug. 2019 Many of the posts display insight into the human-dog relationship and the necessity of companionship, and reveal the deep connections humans develop with their pets. — Christen A. Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Happy International Dog Day! These local pups will brighten your social feed.," 26 Aug. 2019 Investors have been seeking insight into the Fed's willingness to make further interest rate cuts to help shore up the economy. — Alex Veiga, Anchorage Daily News, "U.S. stocks climb after major retailers post solid earnings," 21 Aug. 2019 The neutron-star collision that caused GW170817 has given astronomers a better insight into the properties of these bodies. — The Economist, "Gravitational astronomy proves its maturity," 20 Aug. 2019 Longreads also spoke with Scott Wall — Bill’s son, who is an NBA referee — for some insight into why his father might have felt Kazmer had been snubbed. — Britni De La Cretaz, Longreads, "Flagrant Foul: Benching Teen Moms Before Title IX," 14 Aug. 2019 That also should be a juncture when the Heat will have greater insight into whether Justise Winslow as point-guard-of-the-future is a thing. — Ira Winderman, sun-sentinel.com, "ASK IRA: Are Heat developing contributors or assets?," 14 Aug. 2019 Underneath the loose structure and the very-special-episode subplots (gambling addiction, bulimia) that are forgotten as soon as they’re teased is a series that has real insight into the toll the entertainment industry takes on women. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, "GLOW Goes Post-plot," 8 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'insight.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of insight

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for insight

insight

noun
How to pronounce insight (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of insight

: the ability to understand people and situations in a very clear way
: an understanding of the true nature of something

See the full definition for insight in the English Language Learners Dictionary

insight

noun
in·​sight | \ ˈin-ËŒsÄ«t How to pronounce insight (audio) \

Kids Definition of insight

1 : the ability to understand a person or a situation very clearly
2 : the understanding of the truth of a situation

insight

noun
in·​sight | \ ˈin-ËŒsÄ«t How to pronounce insight (audio) \

Medical Definition of insight

1 : understanding or awareness of one's mental or emotional state or condition
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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More from Merriam-Webster on insight

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with insight

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for insight

Spanish Central: Translation of insight

Nglish: Translation of insight for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of insight for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about insight

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