Propensity
noun
A natural tendency to behave in a particular way.
He has a propensity to exaggerate his achievements.
noun
An inborn inclination to do something.
Hereditary factors can determine a person's genetic propensity for certain diseases.
Usage tips
Scientific
noun
A strong, natural inclination for something.
Some people have a higher propensity for risk-taking actions.
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The likelihood of a behavior or action in a certain situation.
In this demographic, there is a higher propensity for voting Democrats.
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A natural tendency to behave in a particular way.
He has a propensity to exaggerate his achievements.
noun
An inborn inclination to do something.
Hereditary factors can determine a person's genetic propensity for certain diseases.
Usage tips
Scientific
noun
A strong, natural inclination for something.
Some people have a higher propensity for risk-taking actions.
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The likelihood of a behavior or action in a certain situation.
In this demographic, there is a higher propensity for voting Democrats.
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Behavior Tendency
Use 'propensity' to discuss a person's usual behavior, especially something done often.
She has a propensity for arriving early.
Pro Tip 2/3Neutral Tone
'Propensity' is neutral—neither formal nor informal—and fits well in diverse situations.
There's a propensity to use smartphones compulsively these days.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Negative
While often used for negative habits, 'propensity' can also refer to positive tendencies.
He has a propensity to help others without expecting anything in return.
Pro Tip 1/3Behavior Tendency
Use 'propensity' to discuss a person's usual behavior, especially something done often.
She has a propensity for arriving early.
Pro Tip 2/3Neutral Tone
'Propensity' is neutral—neither formal nor informal—and fits well in diverse situations.
There's a propensity to use smartphones compulsively these days.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Negative
While often used for negative habits, 'propensity' can also refer to positive tendencies.
He has a propensity to help others without expecting anything in return.
Pro Tip 1/3Behavior Tendency
Use 'propensity' to discuss a person's usual behavior, especially something done often.
She has a propensity for arriving early.
Pro Tip 2/3Neutral Tone
'Propensity' is neutral—neither formal nor informal—and fits well in diverse situations.
There's a propensity to use smartphones compulsively these days.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Negative
While often used for negative habits, 'propensity' can also refer to positive tendencies.
He has a propensity to help others without expecting anything in return.
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Video examples
The pattern behind...
life-and-death situations so the default position is just believe all patterns are real all rustles in the grass are dangerous predators and not just the wind and so I think that we evolved there was a natural selection for the propensity for our belief engines are pattern-seeking brain processes to
Video examples
Continuing the Fight for...
um and and and sometimes people need more support we should be setting up child care we should be setting up um you know ride shares because a lot of people don't have transportation right that kind of thing so um and i think we're trying to shift the frame from low propensity voters which
Video examples
Why do cats act so...
so one explanation for Grizmo's propensity to reach into containers and openings is that she is compelled by the same curiosity that helped ensure the continuation of her species for millions of years before. In the wild, cats needed sharp claws for climbing, hunting, and self-defense.
Video examples
The habits of happiness...
Likewise, if you look at the thought of anger, it will vanish like frost under the morning sun. If you do this again and again, the propensity, the tendencies for anger to arise again will be less and less each time you dissolve it. And, at the end, although it may rise,
Video examples
The psychological traits...
guided by intuition and emotion. And we've found that these traits help explain why conservatives enjoy political opinion talk programming that clearly and efficiently identifies threats and enemies. What is essential though is that these propensities are not absolute --
Video examples
Candis Watts Smith: 3...
But the fact of the matter is that we might just need to look in the mirror. Now, I'm not saying that everyone here is a racist, but what I am saying is that everyone here has the capacity and perhaps even the propensity to live their life in a way, to make decisions,
Video examples
What color is Tuesday?...
pairings remain fixed for life. Synesthetes inherit a biological propensity for hyperconnecting brain neurons, but then must be exposed to cultural artifacts, such as calendars, food names, and alphabets. The amazing thing is that a single nucleotide change
Video examples
Chris Downey: Design...
has given me all sorts of wonderful outsights of the city itself. Paramount amongst those was the realization that, actually, cities are fantastic places for the blind. And then I was also surprised by the city's propensity for kindness and care
Video examples
Olivia Affuso: 3 ways...
And if you have a genetic propensity towards excessive weight gain, long-term weight maintenance may simply be unattainable given the current treatments available. Although individual health behaviors are important for positive health outcomes,
Video examples
The walk from "no" to...
And yet, like many family reunions, it's not all peace and light. There's a lot of conflict, and the question How do we deal with our differences? How do we deal with our deepest differences, given the human propensity for conflict
Video examples
The pattern behind...
life-and-death situations so the default position is just believe all patterns are real all rustles in the grass are dangerous predators and not just the wind and so I think that we evolved there was a natural selection for the propensity for our belief engines are pattern-seeking brain processes to
Video examples
Continuing the Fight for...
um and and and sometimes people need more support we should be setting up child care we should be setting up um you know ride shares because a lot of people don't have transportation right that kind of thing so um and i think we're trying to shift the frame from low propensity voters which
Video examples
Why do cats act so...
so one explanation for Grizmo's propensity to reach into containers and openings is that she is compelled by the same curiosity that helped ensure the continuation of her species for millions of years before. In the wild, cats needed sharp claws for climbing, hunting, and self-defense.
Video examples
The habits of happiness...
Likewise, if you look at the thought of anger, it will vanish like frost under the morning sun. If you do this again and again, the propensity, the tendencies for anger to arise again will be less and less each time you dissolve it. And, at the end, although it may rise,
Video examples
The psychological traits...
guided by intuition and emotion. And we've found that these traits help explain why conservatives enjoy political opinion talk programming that clearly and efficiently identifies threats and enemies. What is essential though is that these propensities are not absolute --
Video examples
Candis Watts Smith: 3...
But the fact of the matter is that we might just need to look in the mirror. Now, I'm not saying that everyone here is a racist, but what I am saying is that everyone here has the capacity and perhaps even the propensity to live their life in a way, to make decisions,
Video examples
What color is Tuesday?...
pairings remain fixed for life. Synesthetes inherit a biological propensity for hyperconnecting brain neurons, but then must be exposed to cultural artifacts, such as calendars, food names, and alphabets. The amazing thing is that a single nucleotide change
Video examples
Chris Downey: Design...
has given me all sorts of wonderful outsights of the city itself. Paramount amongst those was the realization that, actually, cities are fantastic places for the blind. And then I was also surprised by the city's propensity for kindness and care
Video examples
Olivia Affuso: 3 ways...
And if you have a genetic propensity towards excessive weight gain, long-term weight maintenance may simply be unattainable given the current treatments available. Although individual health behaviors are important for positive health outcomes,
Video examples
The walk from "no" to...
And yet, like many family reunions, it's not all peace and light. There's a lot of conflict, and the question How do we deal with our differences? How do we deal with our deepest differences, given the human propensity for conflict
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Connie Nielsen
Danish Actress
If Copenhagen were a person, that person would be generous, beautiful, elderly, but with a flair. A human being that has certain propensities for quarrelling, filled with imagination and with appetite for the new and with respect for the old - somebody who takes good care of things and of people.
Quote examples
Cole Sprouse
American Actor
I think Jughead is a pretty trustworthy character - not only a narrator. I think he might be selfish, but he's obviously selfish, and that is comforting to me. I also think he has a really strong moral fiber and a propensity for good, and he tries to cultivate that in other people.
Quote examples
Amanda Plummer
Canadian Actress
I had a strong propensity, which I still have, to be invisible. In grade school, I'd try to disappear and become formless. I lived in a very imaginary world. I loved poetry and wrote my first novel when I was 9. It was about a little girl and the people she met in the woods.
Quote examples
Mayim Bialik
American Actress
You know, there's a tremendous amount of genetic propensity not necessarily for what TV shows you like but for literally how you view the world, how you react to things, how things touch you and how things move you.
Quote examples
Orison Swett Marden
American Writer
Whatever you do, don't discourage your dreaming propensity. Your heart's desires are not empty vaporings. They foreshadow possible realities. Man was made to aspire, to look upward.
Quote examples
Frank Rijkaard
Dutch Athlete
Someone said that my coaching is a combination of Milan's defensive discipline and the Dutch propensity for attacking football, and I think that is a fair description.
Quote examples
Adam Smith
Scottish Economist
The propensity to truck, barter and exchange one thing for another is common to all men, and to be found in no other race of animals.
Quote examples
Max Heindel
Danish Celebrity
Hysteria, epilepsy, tuberculosis, and cancer were all found to result from the erratic propensities of a past life.
Quote examples
Sylvester Stallone
American Actor
A lot of guys don't want to admit that they have a propensity for generosity and for violence.
Quote examples
Miguel
American Musician
I have this propensity to just come out and say things. That's how I am in real life.
Quote examples
Connie Nielsen
Danish Actress
If Copenhagen were a person, that person would be generous, beautiful, elderly, but with a flair. A human being that has certain propensities for quarrelling, filled with imagination and with appetite for the new and with respect for the old - somebody who takes good care of things and of people.
Quote examples
Cole Sprouse
American Actor
I think Jughead is a pretty trustworthy character - not only a narrator. I think he might be selfish, but he's obviously selfish, and that is comforting to me. I also think he has a really strong moral fiber and a propensity for good, and he tries to cultivate that in other people.
Quote examples
Amanda Plummer
Canadian Actress
I had a strong propensity, which I still have, to be invisible. In grade school, I'd try to disappear and become formless. I lived in a very imaginary world. I loved poetry and wrote my first novel when I was 9. It was about a little girl and the people she met in the woods.
Quote examples
Mayim Bialik
American Actress
You know, there's a tremendous amount of genetic propensity not necessarily for what TV shows you like but for literally how you view the world, how you react to things, how things touch you and how things move you.
Quote examples
Orison Swett Marden
American Writer
Whatever you do, don't discourage your dreaming propensity. Your heart's desires are not empty vaporings. They foreshadow possible realities. Man was made to aspire, to look upward.
Quote examples
Frank Rijkaard
Dutch Athlete
Someone said that my coaching is a combination of Milan's defensive discipline and the Dutch propensity for attacking football, and I think that is a fair description.
Quote examples
Adam Smith
Scottish Economist
The propensity to truck, barter and exchange one thing for another is common to all men, and to be found in no other race of animals.
Quote examples
Max Heindel
Danish Celebrity
Hysteria, epilepsy, tuberculosis, and cancer were all found to result from the erratic propensities of a past life.
Quote examples
Sylvester Stallone
American Actor
A lot of guys don't want to admit that they have a propensity for generosity and for violence.
Quote examples
Miguel
American Musician
I have this propensity to just come out and say things. That's how I am in real life.
Example 1 of 10
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