1. to react or answer automatically without conscious thought, based on natural impulse or intuition
When the child fell, the mother responded instinctively to catch her.
Quando a criança caiu, a mãe respondeu instintivamente para pegá-la.
2. to act based on innate behavior rather than learned response or deliberation
The animal responded instinctively to the threat by fleeing.
O animal respondeu instintivamente à ameaça fugindo.