What is sense? Pronunciation and usage in English

sense means . Learn how to pronounce and use sense through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of sense

sensenoun/verb

/sɛns/
Definition & pronunciation of sense

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "sense" in English. It's a tricky one for learners because it's often mispronounced!

Here's the breakdown:

The Correct Pronunciation (American English):

  • ˈsens (Stress is on the first syllable)
  • Suhn – Say "sun" but with an "n" at the end. It's a quick, soft "n" sound.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of the sounds:

  1. "S": Starts with a clear "s" sound.
  2. "en": This is the tricky part! It’s pronounced like "uhn" – a short, unstressed vowel sound like in the word “sun” or “fun”. Don't say "en" as in "end."
  3. "se": The "se" is very quickly and lightly pronounced, almost disappearing. It’s really just the sound of the "n" that follows.

Listen to examples:

Common Mistakes and Why They're Wrong:

  • "sens-uh": This adds a long "e" sound at the end, which is incorrect.
  • "sense" (like "sense" in "common sense"): While this is a perfectly acceptable pronunciation in certain contexts (when referring to the feeling of understanding), the standard pronunciation is /ˈsens/.

Resources for Pronunciation:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of English are you learning? (American, British, Australian, etc.)
  • Are you having trouble with a specific part of the pronunciation? (e.g., the "en" sound?)

Usage and examples with the word sense in English

Let's break down how to use the word "sense" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several different meanings! Here's a categorized breakdown with examples:

1. Sense (as in Feeling/Perception - Your Senses)

  • Meaning: This is the core meaning – the ability to perceive things through your five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch).
  • Examples:
    • "I don’t sense anything unusual." (feeling a general vibe)
    • “I can sense a change in the weather.” (feeling a change in temperature or humidity)
    • “She has a good sense of smell.” (ability to detect odors)
    • “He has a keen sense of hearing.” (ability to hear subtle sounds)

2. Sense (as in Understand/Make Sense)

  • Meaning: To comprehend something; to find a logical connection. It’s about making something understandable.
  • Examples:
    • “I don’t sense what you’re saying.” (I don’t understand)
    • “It doesn’t make sense.” (It’s illogical or confusing)
    • “Do you sense the problem?” (Do you understand the issue?)
    • “He makes no sense.” (His speech is illogical and difficult to comprehend.)

3. Sense (as in Feeling of Rightness/Logic)

  • Meaning: A feeling that something is correct, appropriate, or justified. It’s an intuition.
  • Examples:
    • “I have a sense of duty.” (A feeling of obligation)
    • “She has a good sense of humor.” (She’s funny and appropriate)
    • “He has a sense of timing.” (He’s good at knowing the right moment to act)
    • "I got a sense that something was going to happen." (I had an intuition)

4. Sense (as in a Feeling of Importance/Value)

  • Meaning: To have importance or value. Often used in phrases like "common sense."
  • Examples:
    • “Common sense is important.” (Practical, sensible judgment)
    • “There’s no sense in arguing.” (There's no point to arguing)
    • “It’s a matter of sense and nonsense.” (A question of logic and absurdity)

5. Sense (as a Verb - To Perceive/Detect)

  • Meaning: To become aware of something through a sense.
  • Examples:
    • “I sense danger.” (I detect a threat)
    • “Can you sense the heat?” (Can you feel the heat?)
    • “He sensed her nervousness.” (He detected her anxiety)

6. Sense (as a Verb - To Make Logical)

  • Meaning: To make something logical or understandable.
  • Examples:
    • “Let’s sense this out.” (Let's try to figure it out.)
    • "The speaker didn't sense the audience’s frustration." (The speaker failed to understand the audience's reaction)

Key Phrases to Watch Out For:

  • "Sense of..." – This is a very common construction: “a sense of humor,” “a sense of responsibility,” “a sense of belonging.”
  • "Make sense" – This is extremely common when discussing understanding something.
  • "Sense it" - Often used informally to mean “feel it” or “understand it intuitively.” (e.g., "I just sense that this is going to be a bad day.")

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you trying to use "sense" in? (e.g., casual conversation, writing an essay, a specific topic like psychology?)

Synonyms for the word sense

Idioms of the word sense

knock/talk some sense into somebody
to try and persuade somebody to stop behaving in a stupid way, sometimes using rough or violent methods
  • Try and talk some sense into her before she makes the wrong decision.
  • Where would I be without you to knock some sense into my head?
make sense
to have a meaning that you can easily understand
  • This sentence doesn't make sense.
to be a sensible thing to do
  • It makes sense to buy the most up-to-date version.
  • There are strict medicals for pilots, which makes good sense.
to be easy to understand or explain
  • John wasn't making much sense on the phone.
  • Who would send me all these flowers? It makes no sense.
  • It all made perfect sense to me.
make sense of something
to understand something that is difficult or has no clear meaning
  • I can’t make sense of that painting.
see sense
to start to be sensible or reasonable
  • I tried to make him see sense, but he just wouldn't listen.
a sense of occasion
a feeling or understanding that an event is important or special
  • Candles on the table gave the evening a sense of occasion.
take leave of your senses
(old-fashioned)to start behaving in a crazy way

    Practice with vocabulary sense

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. After reviewing the project proposal, it became clear that the budget allocation didn't quite make ____ for the scope of work involved.
    2. The team leader displayed a strong ______ of responsibility, always ensuring all tasks were completed thoroughly and on time.
    3. Effective communication in a globalized workplace requires more than just language proficiency; it demands a deep ______ of cultural nuances.
    4. Despite the challenging circumstances, her unwavering ______ enabled her to persevere and ultimately achieve her goals.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (Select all that apply)

    1. Which of the following phrases correctly use "sense" to describe an ability or quality? a) a strong sense of duty b) a keen sense of observation c) a good sense of humor d) a sharp sense of memory e) a practical sense of fashion

    2. In which of the following sentences can "sense" be appropriately used to convey understanding or logic? a) The new policy simply doesn't ____ to the employees. b) We need to talk some ____ into him about the risks. c) Her proposal offered a clear ____ of direction for the team. d) Common ____ dictates that we should backup our data regularly. e) I have a ____ that this project will be a great success.

    3. If something 'makes sense', what does it imply? a) It is logical. b) It is understandable. c) It is confusing. d) It is reasonable. e) It is obvious.

    4. Which word best describes the ability to make good judgments and decisions, especially in practical matters? a) Intelligence b) Wisdom c) Prudence d) Judgment e) Knowledge

    5. When you are deeply affected by an emotional state, you might describe it as a profound ____. a) perception b) intuition c) feeling d) insight e) awareness

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. It is not logical to expect such complex results with such limited resources.

      • Rewrite the sentence using "sense".

    2. The manager felt a strong connection to the company's long-term vision.

      • Rewrite the sentence using "sense".

    3. Her deep understanding of the market trends proved invaluable for the investment strategy.

      • Rewrite the sentence without using "sense".

    Answer:

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. After reviewing the project proposal, it became clear that the budget allocation didn't quite make sense for the scope of work involved.
    2. The team leader displayed a strong sense of responsibility, always ensuring all tasks were completed thoroughly and on time.
    3. Effective communication in a globalized workplace requires more than just language proficiency; it demands a deep understanding of cultural nuances.
    4. Despite the challenging circumstances, her unwavering determination enabled her to persevere and ultimately achieve her goals.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. a) a strong sense of duty, b) a keen sense of observation, c) a good sense of humor, e) a practical sense of fashion
    2. a) The new policy simply doesn't make sense to the employees., b) We need to talk some sense into him about the risks., d) Common sense dictates that we should backup our data regularly.
    3. a) It is logical., b) It is understandable., d) It is reasonable., e) It is obvious.
    4. c) Prudence, d) Judgment
    5. c) feeling

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. It doesn't make sense to expect such complex results with such limited resources.
    2. The manager felt a strong sense of connection to the company's long-term vision.
    3. Her deep comprehension of the market trends proved invaluable for the investment strategy.

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