sense
sense — verb
1. to become aware of the presence or truth of something through a quiet inner feel
to become aware of the presence or truth of something through a quiet inner feeling, without relying on clear evidence or direct information — for example, sensing that a friend is upset even though they are smiling
Tamar sensed her roommate was worried about the exam because she kept pacing.
sense + that-clause for intuitive awareness
The guard sensed trouble when he saw a group of people running toward the gate.
sense + noun phrase for detecting a problem
Could you sense how uncomfortable the new student felt during the first lesson?
Walking into the dark kitchen, Anjali sensed that someone had moved her keys.
It was easy to sense the disappointment in the room after the result was announced.
passive construction: it was easy to sense + noun phrase
- sense danger
- sense trouble
- sense a presence
- sense a change
- sense that something is wrong
- sense how + adjective clause
- feel
broader term covering both physical and intuitive awareness; more common and direct
- perceive
more formal; can involve the physical senses or the mind
- detect
suggests noticing something that is not obvious; common in technical or investigative contexts
- intuit
closest in meaning but far less common; used mainly in formal or psychological writing
Grammar Patterns
sense + that-clause
sense + wh-clause
sense + noun phrase
Common Mistakes
sense — noun
1. a natural physical channel — seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or touching — t
a natural physical channel — seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or touching — through which the body receives information from the outside world.
Dogs have a much more powerful sense of smell than humans do.
sense of [smell/hearing/sight/taste/touch]
When Linh tasted the soup, her sense of taste told her it needed more salt.
The sense of touch helps babies learn about the world around them.
Nellie relies on her sense of hearing to enjoy music and conversations.
Samir's grandfather noticed his sense of hearing was getting weaker, so the family bought him a hearing aid.
sense of hearing + age-related change
- sense of sight
- sense of hearing
- sense of smell
- sense of taste
- sense of touch
- the five senses
- sharp sense
- keen sense
- loss of sense
- faculty
more formal; used especially in psychology or philosophy
- perception
focuses on the process of receiving information through the senses
Grammar Patterns
sense of [sight/hearing/smell/taste/touch]
the five senses
Usage Note
Often introduced as 'the five senses' in educational settings. Each individual sense is referred to as 'sense of [sight/hearing/smell/taste/touch]'.
Common Mistakes
2. an emotional or intuitive impression that arises without being based on clear fa
an emotional or intuitive impression that arises without being based on clear facts or reasoning.
Sofia felt a strong sense of pride when she crossed the finish line.
sense of [pride/urgency/belonging/purpose]
Walking into the old library gave Hari a strange sense of having been there before.
The team worked with a real sense of purpose after the coach's speech.
After the earthquake, the whole community shared a deep sense of loss.
There was a growing sense of excitement in the hall before the concert began.
- sense of pride
- sense of urgency
- sense of belonging
- sense of loss
- sense of purpose
- strong sense
- deep sense
- growing sense
- feeling
more general and less intense; 'a feeling of happiness' sounds milder than 'a sense of happiness'
- impression
focuses on a first or surface-level reaction rather than a deeper feeling
- awareness
emphasizes knowing something exists rather than emotion
Grammar Patterns
sense of [abstract noun]
Usage Note
Subject is often an event or situation that creates an emotional response in a person or group. Commonly followed by an abstract noun: sense of pride, sense of urgency, sense of belonging, sense of loss.
Common Mistakes
3. a quality of being able to have fun and stay playful, rather than taking everyth
a quality of being able to have fun and stay playful, rather than taking everything too seriously.
Owen has a great sense of fun and makes everyone laugh at parties.
sense of [fun/adventure/play]
Defne's sense of adventure led her to hike through the mountains of Patagonia last summer.
sense of adventure + destination/travel
Jiwoo's sense of play makes her a favourite teacher among the young students.
Cyrus lost his sense of fun after years of working in a very strict office.
- sense of fun
- sense of adventure
- sense of play
- great sense of fun
- lose one's sense of fun
- playfulness
a more direct word for the quality of being light-hearted
- light-heartedness
focuses on the absence of seriousness rather than active enjoyment
- seriousness
the opposite attitude of approaching everything with gravity
Grammar Patterns
sense of [fun/adventure/play]
Usage Note
Typically paired with 'fun', 'adventure', or 'play'. Not used for understanding jokes — see sense 4 (HUMOR) for that.
4. the ability to understand, enjoy, or create things that are funny.
the ability to understand, enjoy, or create things that are funny.
Sivan has such a dry sense of humor that you have to listen carefully.
adjective + sense of humor: dry/wicked/dark/good
When Élise failed her driving test, she used her sense of humor to cheer herself up.
sense of humor + coping with disappointment
Bilal told a joke, but not everyone in the room shared his sense of humor.
Saira's sense of humor is one of my favourite things about her.
Adaeze's wicked sense of humour always keeps her friends entertained.
- sense of humor
- dry sense of humor
- wicked sense of humor
- good sense of humor
- share a sense of humor
Grammar Patterns
sense of humor
Usage Note
Often modified by adjectives like 'dry', 'wicked', 'dark', 'good', or 'sharp'. British English spells it 'humour'; American English uses 'humor'. This sense is distinct from sense 3 (ENJOYMENT), which covers fun and playfulness rather than comedy.
Common Mistakes
5. a special feeling of importance and excitement that people experience during a s
a special feeling of importance and excitement that people experience during a significant event or celebration.
The wedding ceremony had a real sense of occasion, with everyone dressed formally.
fixed expression: a sense of occasion
Fireworks at midnight gave the New Year's party a true sense of occasion.
The mayor's visit brought a strong sense of occasion to the small town.
A simple dinner can have a sense of occasion when the table is set nicely.
- a sense of occasion
- real sense of occasion
- true sense of occasion
- strong sense of occasion
- casualness
the lack of ceremony or special feeling
Grammar Patterns
a sense of occasion
Usage Note
Almost always used in the fixed expression 'a sense of occasion'. Describes the atmosphere or perceived importance of an event. Cannot be used with other nouns like 'fun' or 'humor'.
Common Mistakes
6. the ability to make sensible decisions in everyday life based on practical under
the ability to make sensible decisions in everyday life based on practical understanding rather than on special knowledge or training.
Ife had the good sense to call a doctor when the rash got worse.
have the (good) sense to [verb]
Putri told her younger brother that looking both ways before crossing was just common sense.
common sense + road safety instruction
Paul showed a lot of sense by saving part of his salary every month.
Rodrigo realized there was no sense in arguing with his boss about the holiday schedule.
there's no sense in + gerund
Lotte had enough sense not to walk home alone through the park at night.
- common sense
- good sense
- have the sense to
- there's no sense in
- enough sense
- a lot of sense
- show sense
- common sense
the most frequent form; specifically everyday practical wisdom
- wisdom
broader and deeper; includes knowledge gained over a long time, not just everyday practicality
- judgment
focuses on decision-making in specific situations rather than general practical ability
- foolishness
lack of good sense or judgment
- stupidity
a stronger term for lack of basic understanding
Grammar Patterns
common sense
have the (good) sense to [verb]
there's no sense in [verb]-ing
Usage Note
Frequently appears in the uncountable phrase 'common sense'. Also used in 'have the sense to [do something]' (practical wisdom to take a sensible action) and 'there's no sense in [doing something]' (it is not a good idea). Distinguished from noun sense 7 (good judgment in decision-making) by its focus on everyday practical wisdom rather than measured evaluation of options.
Common Mistakes
7. the ability to make good, practical decisions in a particular situation — for ex
the ability to make good, practical decisions in a particular situation — for example, choosing a safer option over a risky one, or knowing when it is wise to stay quiet instead of speaking.
Henrik had the good sense to call a doctor when his mother felt dizzy.
have the good sense to do something
Dahlia saw no sense in debating politics with her uncle, who never changed his opinion.
see no sense in + gerund
After losing all his savings, Ramón finally came to his senses and stopped gambling.
come to your senses
Anyone with any sense would have worn boots in this muddy weather.
anyone with any sense
Tuan did not have the sense to bring an umbrella, so he got soaked in the rain.
- good sense
- common sense
- have the sense to
- no sense in
- come to your senses
- folly
formal; describes an action that shows a complete lack of good judgment
Grammar Patterns
have the sense to do something
there is no sense in doing something
come to your senses
Usage Note
Often appears in fixed expressions such as 'have the sense to,' 'there is no sense in,' and 'come to your senses.' The object of 'sense in' is a gerund (doing something).
Common Mistakes
8. one of the meanings that a word, phrase, or expression can have depending on the
one of the meanings that a word, phrase, or expression can have depending on the context in which it is used — for example, the word 'right' has a different sense in 'turn right' than in 'human rights.'
The word 'bank' has several senses, including a financial institution and the side of a river.
Yara could not figure out which sense of 'run' the poet intended in the line.
which sense of [word]
This dictionary lists twelve different senses for the verb 'make.'
senses for [word]
Christopher explained the difference between the literal and figurative sense of the phrase.
literal sense / figurative sense
- in the broadest sense
- in a literal sense
- in the narrow sense
- sense of the word
- meaning
more general and common than sense; 'meaning' covers both literal and intended interpretation, while 'sense' often implies one possible reading among several
- interpretation
focuses on how someone understands a word or phrase, placing more emphasis on the reader's viewpoint
Grammar Patterns
sense of [word/phrase]
Usage Note
This sense is most common in discussions of language, dictionaries, and interpretation. It is often followed by 'of' + the word or phrase whose meaning is being described.
Common Mistakes
9. used to say that something is true or applies in every possible aspect, interpre
used to say that something is true or applies in every possible aspect, interpretation, or way of looking at it.
The project failed in every sense — it cost too much, took too long, and pleased nobody.
in every sense
Adisa is a true leader in every sense of the word.
in every sense of the word
Jiwoo's performance was unforgettable in every sense, from the music to the stage design.
The new park is a community asset in every sense — it is safe, beautiful, and free for everyone.
- in every sense
- in every sense of the word
- completely
adverb that focuses on totality of coverage rather than the multiple-aspect nuance of 'in every sense'
- in all respects
more formal, used in written or official language to indicate full validity across criteria
- in no sense
the negative counterpart, meaning 'not at all in any way'
Grammar Patterns
in every sense (of the word)
Usage Note
Always occurs in the fixed phrase 'in every sense,' often followed by 'of the word' for emphasis. This is a set expression — the phrase cannot be reordered to 'in every of the senses.'
Common Mistakes
10. used to say that there is some truth in a statement when you think about it from
used to say that there is some truth in a statement when you think about it from a particular point of view, although it is not completely or exactly true.
In a sense, losing that first job was the best thing that ever happened to Mateo.
in a sense
What the teacher said is correct, in a sense, but it overlooks some important details.
In a sense, the old house had a personality of its own after standing for a hundred years.
The young artist felt that, in a sense, every painting she made was a kind of self-portrait.
- in a sense
- in a very real sense
- in a way
less formal and more common in everyday conversation, carries the same qualifying nuance
- to some extent
more neutral and analytical, used to indicate partial agreement without the subjective framing of 'in a sense'
- in every sense
the opposite, claiming full rather than partial truth across all aspects
Grammar Patterns
in a sense
Usage Note
Always used in the fixed phrase 'in a sense,' which typically appears at the beginning of a sentence or clause. It signals that the speaker is qualifying their statement — acknowledging it is true only from one angle. Distinguished from sense 9 ('in every sense') by its partial, qualified nature.
Common Mistakes
11. used to emphasize that something is definitely not true, not reasonable, or does
used to emphasize that something is definitely not true, not reasonable, or does not apply in any way whatsoever.
In no sense was the accident Henrik's fault — the other driver ran a red light.
in no sense
The committee's decision was, in no sense, a final answer to the housing problem.
The tour guide claimed that the hotel was, in no sense, responsible for the lost luggage.
Padma argued that the price was in no sense reasonable for a room without windows.
- in no sense
- by no means
similar in meaning and formality, also triggers inversion; interchangeable in most contexts
- not at all
less formal; a simpler way to express the same idea without the fixed-phrase structure
- in every sense
the positive counterpart, meaning 'in every possible way'
Grammar Patterns
in no sense
Usage Note
Always appears in the fixed phrase 'in no sense,' which triggers subject-auxiliary inversion when it opens the sentence ('in no sense was...'). This is a formal expression, more common in writing than in everyday speech. Distinguished from sense 9 (in every sense) by its negative force and from sense 10 (in a sense) by its absolute denial rather than partial qualification.
Common Mistakes
To try to make someone stop acting foolishly, sometimes by being forceful.
Maya tried to talk some sense into her brother before he quit his job.
After his wild party, his parents had to knock some sense into him.
make sense
idiomTo be clear and easy to understand.
Her explanation of the math problem finally made sense to me.
Does it make sense to leave now if the store closes in five minutes?
To understand something that is confusing or unclear.
Sara tried to make sense of the complicated instructions for the game.
Can you make sense of this ancient map we found in the attic?
see sense
idiomTo begin to think or behave in a reasonable way.
After hours of arguing, he finally saw sense and agreed to the plan.
I hope she sees sense and stops spending money on things she doesn't need.
a sense of occasion
idiomA feeling that an event is special or important.
The live music and decorations gave the wedding a real sense of occasion.
Everyone dressed formally to match the sense of occasion at the award ceremony.
To start behaving in a crazy or irrational way.
He must have taken leave of his senses to jump into the icy river.
Did she take leave of her senses when she decided to adopt ten cats?
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
FEELING is the broadest term — it covers any emotional or physical experience ('a feeling of cold / a feeling of sadness'), while SENSE suggests a deeper, more intuitive awareness that may not be fully explainable. MEANING is limited to the definition or interpretation of words and symbols ('the meaning of this sign'), whereas SENSE can also refer to a practical or emotional perception. JUDGMENT focuses on the rational evaluation of a situation ('use your judgment'), while SENSE in its practical sense ('common sense') emphasises everyday wisdom rather than careful reasoning. INTUITION is the closest synonym — it specifically refers to knowing something without conscious reasoning, while SENSE can be broader, covering both intuitive and learned awareness. For example, 'I had a feeling something was wrong' is vaguer than 'I sensed something was wrong,' which implies a sharper but still non-evidence-based awareness.
Common collocations
Phrases
- make sense
- in a sense
- in every sense
- in no sense
- come to your senses
- common sense
- sense of humor
- sense of direction
- sense of belonging
- sense of purpose
- sense of occasion
- sense of adventure
- sense of fun
- sense of pride
- sense of loss
- sense of urgency
- there is no sense in
- have the sense to
- anyone with any sense
- sense of smell
- sense of hearing
- sense of sight
- sense of taste
- sense of touch
- the five senses
- literal sense
- figurative sense
- broad sense
- narrow sense
Etymology
From Latin 'sensus' (meaning 'feeling, perception, or understanding'), derived from the verb 'sentire' (to feel, to perceive). It came into English through Old French 'sens'. Since its earliest use, the word has carried both a physical meaning (the five bodily senses) and an intellectual one (meaning, judgment, awareness).