insight

[ in-sahyt ]
/ ˈɪnˌsaɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR insight ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an instance of apprehending the true nature of a thing, especially through intuitive understanding: an insight into 18th-century life.
penetrating mental vision or discernment; faculty of seeing into inner character or underlying truth.
Psychology.
  1. an understanding of relationships that sheds light on or helps solve a problem.
  2. (in psychotherapy) the recognition of sources of emotional difficulty.
  3. an understanding of the motivational forces behind one's actions, thoughts, or behavior; self-knowledge.

Origin of insight

Middle English word dating back to 1150–1200; see origin at in-1, sight

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH insight

incite insight

Words nearby insight

inside track, the, insider, insider dealing, insider trading, insidious, insight, insightful, insigne, insignia, insignificance, insignificancy

Words related to in sight

discernible, evident, noticeable, striking, clear, unmistakable, detectable, obvious, palpable, distinguishable, conspicuous, intuition, observation, understanding, acumen, wisdom, judgment, vision, motivation, revelation

British Dictionary definitions for in sight

insight
/ (ˈɪnˌsaɪt) /

noun

the ability to perceive clearly or deeply; penetration
a penetrating and often sudden understanding, as of a complex situation or problem
psychol
  1. the capacity for understanding one's own or another's mental processes
  2. the immediate understanding of the significance of an event or action
psychiatry the ability to understand one's own problems, sometimes used to distinguish between psychotic and neurotic disorders

Derived forms of insight

insightful, adjective

Medical definitions for in sight

insight
[ ĭn′sīt′ ]

n.

Understanding, especially an understanding of the motives and reasons behind one's actions.

Other words from insight

in′sight•ful (ĭn′sīt′fəl, ĭn-sīt′-) adj.

Idioms and Phrases with in sight

in sight
1

Within one's range of vision, as in The sailboat was still in sight on the horizon. [c. 1200]

2

Also, in one's sight or sights. Before one's eyes; also, within one's awareness. For example, In the world's sight he was at fault, or Harold had that promotion firmly in his sights. [c. 1200]