an understanding about something; an ability to judge something
One of the most important things in a partner is a sense of humour (= the ability to find things funny or make people laugh).
He has a very good sense of direction (= finds the way to a place easily).
(figurative) She has lost all sense of direction in her life (= the idea of what she should do in her life).
Always try to keep a sense of proportion (= of the relative importance of different things).
a sense of rhythm/timing
a sense of fun/adventure
Readers gain a real sense of what life was like in the camp.
Alex doesn't have any dress sense (= does not know which clothes look attractive).
good understanding and judgement; knowledge of what is sensible or practical behaviour
You should have the sense to take advice when it is offered.
There's no sense in (= it is not sensible) worrying about it now.
Can't you talk sense (= say something sensible)?
There's a lot of sense in what Mary says.
the meaning that a word or phrase has; a way of understanding something
That word has three senses.
in … sense The word ‘love’ is used in different senses by different people.
Globalization in the broadest sense is nothing new.
The word ‘perspective’ is being used here in a technical sense.
He was a true friend, in every sense of the word (= in every possible way).
In a sense (= in one way) it doesn't matter any more.
In some senses (= in one or more ways) the criticisms were justified.
(formal) In no sense can the issue be said to be resolved.
in the sense of something I am using ‘cold’ in the sense of ‘unfriendly’.
in the sense that… I don't mean that the press ought to be free in the sense that no one ought to pay for it.
There is a sense in which we are all to blame for the tragedy.
one of the five powers (sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch) that your body uses to get information about the world around you
the five senses
sense of something Dogs have a keen sense (= strong sense) of smell.
the sense organs (= eyes, ears, nose, etc.)
I could hardly believe the evidence of my own senses (= what I could see, hear, etc.).
The mixture of sights, smells and sounds around her made her senses reel.
a feeling about something important
sense of something His career was guided by a strong sense of duty.
There is now a sense of urgency to fix the problem.
I have found a sense of purpose in the work I do here.
Most people in the country have a strong sense of national identity.
My parents instilled a strong sense of responsibility in me.
Clubs try to create a sense of community.
Helmets can give cyclists a false sense of security.
He felt an overwhelming sense of loss.
sense (that)… I had the sense that he was worried about something.
I got the sense that she wasn't very pleased to see us.
a normal state of mind; the ability to think clearly
If she threatens to leave, it should bring him to his senses.
He waited for Dora to come to her senses and return.
No one in their right senses would give him the job!
(old-fashioned) Are you out of your senses? You'll be killed!
to try and persuade somebody to stop behaving in a stupid way, sometimes using rough or violent methods
Try and talk some sense into her before she makes the wrong decision.
Where would I be without you to knock some sense into my head?
to have a meaning that you can easily understand
This sentence doesn't make sense.
to be a sensible thing to do
It makes sense to buy the most up-to-date version.
There are strict medicals for pilots, which makes good sense.
to be easy to understand or explain
John wasn't making much sense on the phone.
Who would send me all these flowers? It makes no sense.
It all made perfect sense to me.
to understand something that is difficult or has no clear meaning
I can’t make sense of that painting.
to start to be sensible or reasonable
I tried to make him see sense, but he just wouldn't listen.
a feeling or understanding that an event is important or special
Candles on the table gave the evening a sense of occasion.
to start behaving in a crazy way
to become aware of something even though you cannot see it, hear it, etc.
sense something Sensing danger, they started to run.
I sensed a note of tension in his voice.
I could sense the presence of someone near me.
He sensed an opportunity to score a propaganda victory.
sense (that)… Lisa sensed that he did not believe her.
Thomas, she sensed, could convince anyone of anything.
sense somebody/something doing something He sensed someone moving around behind him.
sense somebody/something do something He sensed something move in the bushes.
sense how, what, etc… She could sense how nervous he was.
to discover and record something
equipment that senses the presence of toxic gases