propensity
/propensity/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A natural inclination or tendency to behave in a particular way: A "propensity" is a person's inherent or habitual leaning toward a specific type of thought, feeling, or action.
- An inherent likelihood or tendency of something to happen or be in a certain state: "Propensity" can also describe the natural tendency of an object, substance, or situation to develop in a specific manner.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- She has a propensity for kindness, always helping those in need.
- The chemical's propensity to explode makes it dangerous to handle.
- His propensity to procrastinate often caused him problems at work.
Advanced Usage
- "propensity for (something)": a natural tendency toward a particular thing or activity.
- The data shows a clear propensity for younger voters to support the new policy.
- "propensity to (do something)": a natural tendency to act in a specific way.
- He has an unfortunate propensity to interrupt people when they are speaking.
- "propensity toward(s) (something)": a leaning or inclination in the direction of something.
- There is a growing propensity towards remote work in the tech industry.
Variants and Related Words
- Propense (adj, archaic): Inclined or disposed. (Rarely used in modern English).
- Propensely (adv, archaic): In an inclined manner.
Synonyms
- Inclination: A person's natural tendency or urge to act or feel in a particular way.
- Tendency: An inclination toward a particular characteristic or type of behavior.
- Proclivity: A tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition, often toward something undesirable.
- Predisposition: A liability or tendency to suffer from a particular condition, hold a particular attitude, or act in a particular way.
- Penchant: A strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something.
- Leaning: A tendency or preference.
Antonyms
- Aversion: A strong dislike or disinclination.
- Disinclination: A reluctance or lack of enthusiasm.
- Antipathy: A deep-seated feeling of dislike.
Notes on Usage
- "Propensity" often implies a deep-seated, sometimes innate, inclination. It is a more formal term than "tendency."
- It is commonly followed by the prepositions "for," "to," or "toward(s)," depending on the structure of the sentence (e.g., "a propensity for violence," "a propensity to argue," "a propensity towards pessimism").
Noun
- a disposition to behave in a certain way
- the aptness of iron to rust
- the propensity of disease to spread
- a natural inclination
- he has a proclivity for exaggeration
- an inclination to do something
- he felt leanings toward frivolity