perceptive
Americanadjective
-
having or showing keenness of insight, understanding, or intuition.
a perceptive analysis of the problems involved.
- Synonyms:
- astute, keen, sensitive, discerning
-
having the power or faculty of perceiving.
-
of, relating to, or showing perception.
adjective
-
quick at perceiving; observant
-
perceptual
-
able to perceive
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of perceptive
Explanation
If someone calls you perceptive, they mean you are good at understanding things or figuring things out. Perceptive people are insightful, intelligent, and able to see what others cannot. Perceive means "to see"; so, perceptive is a word to describe someone who is good at seeing. Perceptive is derived from the Latin word percipere which means "to obtain or gather." A perceptive person is good at gathering information and using her senses to take in the world. If you are upset but trying to hide it, a perceptive person is the one who will notice.
Vocabulary lists containing perceptive
ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Co-directors Lorenzo Ferro and Lucas Vignale find a timeless and strikingly solemn protagonist in Barria, whose perceptive eyes take in the world while concealing his preoccupations.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026
They love deeply, and they are uncommonly perceptive.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
Twelve months on, their visit brought more words of caution from Amorim about his side's evolution that proved equally perceptive.
From BBC • Nov. 24, 2025
There, in the confines of its pages, Nora recognizes that her father has a much more innate and perceptive knowledge of her that neither of them ever could’ve imagined.
From Salon • Nov. 23, 2025
“You’re a perceptive one, Girl,” the boy says quietly.
From "Legend" by Marie Lu
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
