Word
gut
Meanings
the stomach and intestines; the digestive system inside the body
a strong instinctive feeling about something; intuition
courage or determination to do something difficult, especially when it involves risk or criticism
Definition
The gut is the digestive system, especially the stomach and intestines, or a person’s instinctive feeling about something.
The gut commonly refers to the organs inside your body that digest food, especially the stomach and intestines. In everyday English, it can also mean a strong instinct or intuition that you cannot fully explain logically. It is often used in expressions about courage or emotional reactions, such as “have the guts.”
Examples
- I had a gut feeling that the meeting would go badly, so I prepared a backup plan.
- She trusted her gut and declined the offer, even though it looked attractive on paper.
- They didn’t have the gut to challenge the decision in public, so they raised concerns privately later.
- After the spicy meal, he felt pain in his gut and decided to eat more lightly the next day.
Common mistake
Learners often misuse the article and say “I have gut feeling” instead of “I have a gut feeling.”
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