perceptive

/pəˈseptɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /pərˈseptɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /pər-ˈsep-tiv/ (ame, mw)

perceptive — adjective

  • perceptivepositive
  • more perceptivecomparative
  • most perceptivesuperlative

1. quick to notice small signs and understand what they show, especially in people

1.形容詞C1
釋義

quick to notice small signs and understand what they show, especially in people or situations that others read too slowly.

例句

Wren gave a perceptive answer about why the dog hid under the bed.

perceptive + noun

Tariq was perceptive enough to notice that his coach looked worried.

perceptive enough to + verb

同義詞
  • insightful

    stresses depth of understanding, especially in comments or analysis

  • observant

    focuses more on noticing details than on interpreting them

  • astute

    often used for smart judgment in practical or political situations

  • sensitive

    can overlap when noticing feelings, but it stresses empathy more than insight

反義詞
  • oblivious

    fails to notice what is happening around them

  • unperceptive

    direct opposite; lacking insight into signs or feelings

文法句型

perceptive + noun

perceptive about + noun

perceptive enough to + verb

用法筆記

Often used before nouns such as 'comment', 'question', or 'reader'. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense praises a person's insight, while sense 2 is a more technical meaning about perception itself.

常見錯誤

❌The smell was perceptive from the hallway.
✅The smell was perceptible from the hallway.
💡'perceptive' describes a person or remark that notices well; 'perceptible' describes something that can be noticed.
❌Mira is perceptive for other people's feelings.
✅Mira is perceptive about other people's feelings.
💡Use 'about' for the area of insight, not 'for'.

2. connected with the way the mind or body receives information through sight, soun

2.形容詞C2
釋義

connected with the way the mind or body receives information through sight, sound, touch, and the other senses.

例句

The article focuses on perceptive abilities such as hearing, touch, and balance.

perceptive abilities

Doctors tested the baby's perceptive response to bright light and cold air.

perceptive response to + stimulus

同義詞
  • perceptual

    more common modern technical adjective for processes of perception

  • sensory

    focuses more directly on the physical senses themselves

反義詞

文法句型

perceptive + noun (skills/abilities/systems)

perceptive response to + stimulus

用法筆記

Mostly seen in academic or technical writing before nouns such as 'abilities', 'response', or 'systems'. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 describes an insightful person or remark, while this sense names perception-related functions themselves.

常見錯誤

❌The mark was too faint to be perceptive.
✅The mark was too faint to be perceptible.
💡this sense is about sensing processes, not about something being detectable.