basic instinct

collocation in English

meaningsofbasicandinstinct

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withinstinct.
basic
adjective
uk
/ˈbeɪ.sɪk/us
/ˈbeɪ.sɪk/
simple and not complicated, so able to provide the base or starting point from which something ...
See more atbasic
instinct
noun[C or U]
uk
/ˈɪn.stɪŋkt/us
/ˈɪn.stɪŋkt/
the way people or animals naturally react or behave, without having to think or learn ...
See more atinstinct

(Definition ofbasicandinstinctfrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofbasic instinct

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
For most cottagers and labourers the battle to retain a respectable independence was abasicinstinct.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Perhaps it was on the sports field that mybasicinstinctfor fairness was reinforced.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
How are we to bring home to people the need for thisbasicinstinctfor cleanliness?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It satisfies abasicinstinctand provides an interest which unkempt, open spaces can never do.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It may come to wrong conclusions as to what should be done practically, but thebasicinstinctof democracy is nearly always right.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It makes overwrought manipulation seem more than abasicinstinct.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
In this, their basic instincts about increasing knowledge fortunately predominate over their desire for a neater methodological world.
From theCambridge English Corpus
The process by which the succession of different meanings is imposed is driven by the will to power thebasicinstinctfor domination underlying all human action.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Human reproduction is protected by strong basic instincts.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Freud analyzed religious belief in terms of primary process thinking, which he characterized as vivid, impulsive, emotional, and in the service of the most basic instincts.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Here is a man who is trying to lead his party against its basic instincts.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
He started with restraint, but his basic instincts took over later in his speech and in some of his interventions.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It goes back to basic instincts and the grain of human nature.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I have a very high regard for people's basic instincts and believe that by and large they are good.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Privatisation and competitive tendering have delivered tremendous benefits because they, too, appeal to basic instincts in human nature.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I fear that the basic instincts of an unchecked society are dominated by hierarchies.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Basic instincts drive the puppy to locate the subject, initially by sight but with the association of human scent.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
However, he can never escape the draw of their more... basic instincts.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Nomak also retains all of his higher brain functions, not relying on his basic instincts to feed.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition ofbasic
Go to the definition ofinstinct
See other collocations withinstinct