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perceptive

Adjective

IPA /pəˈsɛptɪv/

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Meaning in plain English

Good at noticing and understanding details about people or situations, especially things that are not immediately obvious to others.

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Pronunciation

perceptive/pəˈsɛptɪv/

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A friend says they are fine
You notice they are troubled

A perceptive person understands what is not immediately obvious.

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My perceptive sister noticed I was worried before I said anything.
A perceptive student spotted the hidden assumption in the writer's argument.

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My ________ sister noticed I was worried before I said anything.

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perceptive — Good at noticing and understanding details about people or situations, especially things that are not immediately obvious to others.

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Good at noticing and understanding details about people or situations, especially things that are not immediately obvious to others.

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Word origin

From Medieval Latin perceptivus, ultimately related to Latin percipere, meaning to grasp or understand.

Did you know?

Perceptiveness is the noun for this ability; perceptively is the adverb.

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