Instinctually knowing a word, but not knowing how to define it?

When I'm reading a book or something, I understand what I'm reading, but if I pick out certain words, I can't think of a way to describe it, other than using a synonym (similar word).

Do I have some sort of thought disorder or is this normal?

Voting Results
88% Normal
Based on 48 votes (42 yes)
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Comments ( 8 )
  • redhearts

    Sometimes words have very subtle meanings that definitions can't express. You can only pick out its true meaning from context. Or as janith said you have a lousy vocabulary.

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  • FlyingRaptorJESUS

    100% normal. There are tons of words that i understand perfectly when they are in context but would not be able to define it

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  • Uzzie101

    Yeah, normally it's the most everyday words. Or words with few synonym. Like, define the word "define". How the fuck?

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  • animalcracker

    Hahaha i have the same thing. There are words that i have never seen or heard before and i know what they mean, but i cannot explain them to some1 else. Only myself. I guess its normal

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  • hot2trot

    Did you happen to study Latin? I did for 6 years and now some words I just inherently recognize tho I may not be able to define exactly.

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  • Very normal. It's not that you know it instinctively, it's just that you don't know how to describe it because you lack the vocabulary.

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  • sanitycheck

    I have more of an opposite problem. Give me a rough definition and I'll play hell coming up with the right word, but give me a word and I'm very likely to be able to define it pretty well.

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  • VintageCharm

    It's completely normal. Sometimes we are able to define a word by relating it to similar ones. It is completely normal.

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