insight Hear it!

insight Definition

in·sight (in′sīt′)

noun

  1. the ability to see and understand clearly the inner nature of things, esp. by intuition
  2. a clear understanding of the inner nature of some specific thing
    1. Psychol. awareness of one's own mental attitudes and behavior
    2. Psychiatry recognition of one's own mental disorder

Etymology: ME insiht: see in- & sight

insight Synonyms

insight

n.

penetration, perspicacity, shrewdness; see acumen.

insight Usage Examples

Preposition: into

  • working: The book is a true insight into the workings of radio, be it national radio or local radio, the same things happen.
  • nature: Interesting insights into the nature of being an American in a global community.
  • life: A charming insight into Irish rural family life in the 1930s.
  • mechanism: Using these approaches we hope to gain insights into the molecular mechanisms controlling cortical patterning Select Recent Publications Theil, T. ( 2005 ).
  • evolution: Dr. Tomkins said, Darwin demonstrated how islands are fertile arenas for insights into evolution.
  • complexity: Study of instruction in individual classrooms is one way of gaining insights into the complexity of schooling.

Converse of object

  • gain: They have gained insights into safety issues from a software development angle.
  • provide: They may provide an insight into the users motives.
  • give: The book gives a few insights into how the Beatles lived.
  • offer: The hall offers a real insight into life in the late 17th Century.
  • yield: Continuing research may yield further insights into the past of this historically important abbey.
  • penetrate: The work yields penetrating insights into the topic(s ) involved, and contains well-chosen and appropriately presented evidence to support the argument.

Adjective modifier

  • fascinating: A fascinating insight to a drivers life at the time.
  • valuable: She's given me many valuable insights on how we can improve the experience for users of our product.
  • invaluable: Not only did I gain great experience, I also got an invaluable insight into the workings of an international current affairs magazine.
  • unique: The museum provides a unique insight into the daily life of a Roman soldier based on Hadrian's Wall.
  • deep: There is ultimately no other way to gain deeper insight into the secondary than through the pinnacle.
  • interesting: About the tree trail The trail is designed to give an interesting insight into the many trees found in both parks.

Modifies a noun

  • meditation: Vipassana or insight meditation is another way of kusala kamma included in bhavana.

Noun used with modifier

  • gain: They will absorb some of the culture and gain insight into a different way of life.
insight Quotes

For insight into human affairs I turn to stories and poems rather than to sociology. This is the result of my upbringing and background.Iamnot abletomakeuse of the wisdom of the sociologists because I do not speak their language.

—Dyson, FreemanJ(ohn)

Religion is far more acute than science, and if it only added judgement to insight, would be the greatest thing in the world.

—Forster, E(dward) M(organ)

There issuch a thing as luck.There issuch a thing as a run of luck. This is an instructive insight I have gained from pokeröthat all things have a rhythm, even the most seemingly inanimate of statistics.

—Mamet, David Alan

A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience.

—Holmes, Oliver Wendell

If sex and creativity are often seen by dictators as subversive activities, it's because they lead to the knowledge that you own your own body (and with it your own voice), and that's the most revolutionary insight of all.

—Jong, Erica ne¤  e Mann

  He read partly for information, partly for comparison, partly for insight, partly for the sheer joy of felicitous statement.He delighted particularly inquotationswhich distilled the essence of an argument.

—Schlesinger, Arthur M(eier),Jr