senses
senses — verb
- sensespresent simple I / you / we / they
- senseses3rd person singular
- sensesing-ing form
- sensesedpast simple
1. to have a feeling that something is true or that a particular situation exists,
to have a feeling that something is true or that a particular situation exists, even though you do not have clear proof or a logical reason
Élise could sense that something was wrong when her father did not answer the phone.
sense + that-clause for unproven feeling
As soon as Sora walked into the office, he sensed the tension between his two colleagues.
sense + noun phrase for mood or atmosphere
Otis sensed a change in the atmosphere at work, but he could not explain what it was.
The old dog seemed to sense its owner's sadness and stayed close all afternoon.
Adaeze sensed someone was watching her as she walked home through the empty street.
- miss
to fail to notice a feeling or atmosphere
文法句型
sense + that-clause
sense + noun phrase
用法筆記
Subject is often a person with no external evidence — this sense implies intuition, not physical observation. Distinguish from sense 2 (PHYSICAL PERCEPTION), which requires actual sensory input such as sight or touch.
常見錯誤
2. to notice something through one of the physical senses, especially touch, hearin
to notice something through one of the physical senses, especially touch, hearing, or sight, by receiving real sensory information
Ramón sensed a cold draft coming from under the door as he sat by the window.
sense + noun phrase for a physical stimulus
Felipe sensed the heat of the flames on his face before he even saw the fire.
Yara could sense the soft fabric of the scarf against her skin on the cold morning.
The hiker sensed the ground shaking beneath his feet and realized it was an earthquake.
Lying in bed, Daichi sensed a faint smell of smoke drifting through the hallway.
- ignore
to deliberately not notice a physical stimulus
文法句型
sense + noun phrase (physical sensation)
用法筆記
Frequently used with physical objects or phenomena (draft, heat, touch, smell) as the direct object. The sensory stimulus must be genuinely present — unlike sense 1 (INSTINCTIVE FEELING), this sense reports actual sensory data.
常見錯誤
3. when a machine, device, or system automatically detects something such as light,
when a machine, device, or system automatically detects something such as light, movement, sound, or a chemical signal
The security camera senses any movement within ten metres and starts recording.
device + senses + physical stimulus (automatic)
Sora's phone senses when it is placed on a wireless charger and begins charging.
The smart light in the hallway senses a person approaching and turns itself on.
The smoke detector sensed high levels of smoke in the kitchen and triggered the alarm.
Eli's car senses when the road surface is wet and adjusts the speed automatically.
文法句型
device + senses + noun phrase (stimulus)
用法筆記
Subject is always a device, machine, or system — never a person. The detection is automatic and programmed, not conscious. Common in technology and engineering contexts.
常見錯誤
4. to understand or become aware of the meaning, importance, or nature of something
to understand or become aware of the meaning, importance, or nature of something through careful thought or observation
Andrew sensed the deeper meaning of the poem only after reading it a second time.
sense + noun phrase for intellectual understanding
It did not take long for Sana to sense the real reason behind her friend's sudden silence.
The students sensed the main argument of the speech, even though some words were difficult.
Anong sensed the seriousness of the situation when the manager called an emergency meeting.
Felipe sensed that the joke was at his expense, but he chose to laugh along anyway.
- grasp
implies understanding something complex; slightly more formal
- comprehend
formal; refers to full intellectual understanding
- realize
focuses on the moment of becoming aware; more common in everyday speech
- misunderstand
to understand something incorrectly
- overlook
to fail to notice the meaning or importance
文法句型
sense + that-clause (understanding)
sense + noun phrase (abstract)
用法筆記
Object is usually an abstract concept (meaning, reason, argument, significance). Distinguish from sense 1 (INSTINCTIVE FEELING) — this sense involves mental effort and understanding, while sense 1 is about gut feeling without reasoning.
常見錯誤
senses — noun
- sensessingular
- sensesesplural
1. one of the natural channels — seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching —
one of the natural channels — seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching — through which people and animals experience the world around them
Dogs rely heavily on their sense of smell to find food and recognize people.
sense + of + noun: sense of smell / sight / hearing
After the accident, Aarav lost his sense of taste and could not enjoy any food.
Babies explore the world through their sense of touch by picking up objects.
Uncle Bilal's sense of hearing became much weaker after years of work in a noisy factory.
Lukas could tell a storm was coming because his sense of hearing picked up the faint rumble before anyone else.
- sensation
focuses on the physical feeling rather than the ability itself
- perception
more formal; the process of becoming aware through the senses
文法句型
sense + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently followed by 'of' + a specific ability noun: 'sense of smell', 'sense of hearing', 'sense of sight', 'sense of touch', 'sense of taste'. The article 'a' or 'the' usually comes before the phrase.
常見錯誤
2. an impression or feeling about a situation or person, often one that you notice
an impression or feeling about a situation or person, often one that you notice without having clear proof
Walking into the empty house gave Linh a strange sense of loneliness.
sense + of + abstract noun: sense of loneliness/urgency/belonging
The teacher's loud voice created a sense of urgency in the classroom before the exam.
A good map gives you a better sense of direction in a new city.
Yael had a strong sense that someone was watching her from the window.
After three months in the team, Maja finally felt a sense of belonging at work.
- feeling
more general and less formal; can be physical or emotional
- impression
often based on first or limited contact
文法句型
sense + of + abstract noun
sense + that-clause
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' + an abstract noun (sense of pride, sense of achievement, sense of loss) or by a 'that-clause' describing the feeling.
常見錯誤
3. a cheerful attitude that allows someone to enjoy life, laugh at things, and not
a cheerful attitude that allows someone to enjoy life, laugh at things, and not take everything too seriously
Grandpa never lost his sense of fun, even when he turned ninety years old.
fixed phrase: sense of fun
The tour guide's sense of fun made everyone forget the long bus ride.
Adisa's sense of fun made every boring meeting a little more enjoyable for the team.
A picnic in the rain needs a strong sense of fun to keep everyone smiling.
- playfulness
suggests a tendency to joke and have fun rather than a general life attitude
- lightheartedness
focuses on not being serious or worried
- seriousness
the opposite attitude of taking everything seriously
文法句型
sense + of + fun
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'sense of fun'. It describes a personality trait, not a temporary mood.
4. the ability to understand, enjoy, and make jokes or laugh at funny situations
the ability to understand, enjoy, and make jokes or laugh at funny situations
Ezra has a dry sense of humour that not everyone understands at first.
modifiers: dry / wicked / good sense of humour
Jenna and her brother share the same sense of humour and laugh at silly jokes.
Sophia's sense of humour helped her stay calm when her flight was delayed for five hours.
Ravindra's sense of humour made him very popular among his classmates at the university.
People with a wicked sense of humour often enjoy jokes that surprise others.
- wit
the ability to say funny or clever things quickly, a narrower skill
文法句型
sense + of + humour
用法筆記
Very common in the fixed phrase 'sense of humour' (British spelling) or 'sense of humor' (American spelling). Can be modified by adjectives such as 'good', 'dry', 'wicked', 'dark', 'sharp'.
常見錯誤
5. the feeling of excitement and importance that comes with a special public event
the feeling of excitement and importance that comes with a special public event or ceremony
The live music and candlelight gave the wedding a wonderful sense of occasion.
fixed phrase: sense of occasion
Rodrigo wore his best suit to create a sense of occasion at the ceremony.
Without any decorations or music, the party lacked a proper sense of occasion.
The fireworks display created a strong sense of occasion for everyone watching from the park.
- informality
a relaxed, casual atmosphere without ceremony
文法句型
sense + of + occasion
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'sense of occasion'. Describes the collective mood at an event, not an individual's personal feeling.
6. the ability to make wise, practical decisions in everyday life by thinking caref
the ability to make wise, practical decisions in everyday life by thinking carefully about what is most sensible
Rania had the good sense to take an umbrella when she saw the dark clouds.
have the sense + to-infinitive: sensible decision
It made good sense for Maeve to book her flight early because the prices increased a week later.
There was no sense in Zayd waiting any longer for his lost luggage, so he left the airport.
Dylan showed good sense by saving part of his salary every month for emergencies.
Buying cheap shoes that fall apart after a week makes no sense at all.
- common sense
practical judgment that most people share; a subset of 'good sense'
- wisdom
deeper understanding gained over time; more advanced than practical sense
- judgment
the ability to form opinions or decisions; often used for specific situations
- foolishness
lack of good sense or judgment
文法句型
have the (good) sense + to-infinitive
make sense
there is no sense in + -ing verb
用法筆記
Often occurs in the fixed expressions 'make sense', 'have the sense to do something', 'there is no sense in doing something'. Can be uncountable when referring to the quality itself or countable when referring to a particular wise action.
常見錯誤
7. the good judgment shown in choosing the right thing to do in one particular situ
the good judgment shown in choosing the right thing to do in one particular situation — for instance, deciding to call a plumber instead of trying to fix a burst pipe yourself because you know it is beyond your skill.
Ada had the sense to call a taxi after drinking at the party.
have the sense + infinitive for wise action
When the storm warning came, Darius had the sense to move his car into the garage.
have the sense + infinitive — one-time situational decision
The manager had the good sense not to mention the error before the client.
Kevin had the sense to check the weather forecast before going hiking.
No one had the sense to write down the address, so the driver got lost.
- foolishness
the lack of good judgement or wisdom
文法句型
have the (good) sense to + infinitive
用法筆記
Commonly used in the negative ('didn't have the sense to…') to criticise someone for failing to take an obvious precaution.
常見錯誤
8. any of the distinct meanings that a word, expression, or statement can carry — f
any of the distinct meanings that a word, expression, or statement can carry — for example, the word 'pupil' has one sense that refers to a student and another that refers to part of the eye.
The word 'pupil' means a student or part of the eye, depending on the sense.
depending on the sense — common collocation for disambiguation
In what sense are you using the word 'theory' in your essay?
This dictionary lists twelve different senses of the noun 'light.'
The noun 'force' has a different sense in physics than in everyday conversation.
Noa explained the legal sense of the term 'negligence' to the interns.
- meaning
more general; 'sense' implies one of several distinct meanings within a range
- definition
more formal; refers specifically to a dictionary explanation
- interpretation
focuses on how the meaning is understood by a particular person
文法句型
in the [adjective] sense
sense of the word
常見錯誤
9. from all possible aspects or perspectives — for example, calling a holiday 'in e
from all possible aspects or perspectives — for example, calling a holiday 'in every sense' perfect means it was wonderful for relaxation, adventure, and cost.
Daichi's new apartment is in every sense better than his old one.
The project was in every sense a disaster: over budget, behind schedule, and poorly designed.
in every sense + noun phrase — emphatic statement
Isabela is in every sense a professional: punctual, prepared, and polite.
The film is in every sense a masterpiece of modern cinema.
The garden is in every sense a family project, from planting to watering to harvesting.
- in every way
more literal and less formal; does not carry the word-meaning connotation
- in all respects
more formal; used in academic or business writing
文法句型
in every sense (of the word/term)
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'in every sense (of the word/term).' Can be followed by a list or a single strong noun for emphasis.
常見錯誤
10. from one particular point of view, while recognising that other points of view a
from one particular point of view, while recognising that other points of view also exist — used to acknowledge partial truth about something without fully agreeing with it.
In a sense, losing that job was the best thing that happened to Andrei.
What Lara said is true in a sense, but it is not the whole story.
true in a sense, but… — contrasting partial truth with full picture
The experiment failed, but in a sense the team learned what not to repeat.
In a sense, the cheaper model was better value because it lasted twice as long.
Obi felt that in one sense the city never left him, even years after moving.
- in some respects
more formal and precise
- to some extent
focuses on degree rather than viewpoint
- in no sense
the opposite — complete denial from every viewpoint
文法句型
in a sense, [clause]
in one sense … but in another sense …
用法筆記
Often paired with a contrasting statement ('but', 'however', 'yet') to acknowledge one viewpoint while pointing to others. Do not confuse with 'in no sense' (sense 11), which is a complete denial.
常見錯誤
11. used to emphasise that something is definitely not true from any possible perspe
used to emphasise that something is definitely not true from any possible perspective — for instance, saying someone is 'in no sense' a thief means they are not dishonest in any way.
Ignacio is in no sense responsible for the accident in the parking lot.
The new policy is in no sense a punishment; it simply helps employees.
in no sense + noun — emphatic denial followed by clarification
Reema is in no sense an expert on Roman history, though she enjoys reading it.
The company's difficulties are in no sense the fault of the factory workers.
This decision is in no sense final — the board reviews it next quarter.
- by no means
equally formal; can be placed in different positions within the sentence
- not in the least
slightly more informal; common in spoken English
- in every sense
the opposite — emphasising that something is true from every possible viewpoint
文法句型
in no sense + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb