nature
Americannoun
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natures
plural
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the material world, especially as surrounding humankind and existing independently of human activities.
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the natural world as it exists without human beings or civilization.
In nature, wild dogs hunt in packs.
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the elements of the natural world, as mountains, trees, animals, or rivers.
The abandoned power plant was reclaimed by nature, covered in overgrowth and home to feral animals.
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natural scenery.
Tourists at the resort are surrounded by nature.
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the universe, with all its phenomena.
Conservation of energy is a universal law of nature.
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the sum total of the forces at work throughout the universe.
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reality, as distinguished from any effect of art.
a portrait true to nature.
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the particular combination of qualities belonging to a person, animal, thing, or class by birth, origin, or constitution; native or inherent character.
human nature.
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the instincts or inherent tendencies directing conduct.
a man of good nature.
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character, kind, or sort.
two books of the same nature.
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characteristic disposition; temperament: an evil nature.
a self-willed nature;
an evil nature.
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the original, natural, uncivilized condition of humankind.
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the biological functions or the urges to satisfy their requirements.
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a primitive, wild condition; an uncultivated state.
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a simple, uncluttered mode of life without the conveniences or distractions of civilization.
a return to nature.
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(initial capital letter, italics) a prose work (1836), by Ralph Waldo Emerson, expounding transcendentalism.
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Theology. the moral state as unaffected by grace.
noun
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the fundamental qualities of a person or thing; identity or essential character
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(often capital, esp when personified) the whole system of the existence, arrangement, forces, and events of all physical life that are not controlled by man
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all natural phenomena and plant and animal life, as distinct from man and his creations
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a wild primitive state untouched by man or civilization
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natural unspoilt scenery or countryside
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disposition or temperament
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tendencies, desires, or instincts governing behaviour
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the normal biological needs or urges of the body
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sort; kind; character
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the real appearance of a person or thing
a painting very true to nature
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accepted standards of basic morality or behaviour
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biology the complement of genetic material that partly determines the structure of an organism; genotype Compare nurture
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sympathy and fondness for one's own people or native place
she is full of nature
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unnatural or immoral
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essentially or innately
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informal the need to urinate or defecate
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using natural models in drawing, painting, etc
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essentially the same as; by way of
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The world and its naturally occurring phenomena, together with all of the physical laws that govern them.
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Living organisms and their environments.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of nature
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English natur(e), from Old French, from Latin nātūra “conditions of birth, quality, character, natural order, world,” equivalent to nāt(us) (past participle of nāscī “to be born”) + -ūra noun suffix; see -ure
Explanation
Your nature is sort of the way you are — the sum total of how you think, feel, and behave. It might be in your nature to remain calm and level-headed when faced with a difficult challenge. Things that aren't people can also have their own nature. You might notice the frantic nature of a political debate, or you might question the nature of your brother's friendships. Nature can also refer to the physical world made up of plants and animals: what you think of as "the great outdoors." You might be a nature lover who enjoys hiking. Nature can also describe natural forces, such as the destructive elements of nature, like a tsunami or a tornado.
Vocabulary lists containing nature
Psychology
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"On the Menu" and "Find the Adaptations"
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Species
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Now I can help elevate the team and really think about the business partnership nature of the role and tie that back to visibility.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
This type of energy transfer is among the most efficient known in nature.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026
"We are satisfied that the fear of a likely reimposition of such a restrictive TPIM, and its possibly never-ending nature, had a significant impact on the mental state of Akhtar in prison."
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
With Noah being a Manhunter, it turned out that he and John were dealing with similar questions around lineage and legacy and nature versus nurture.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
These microscopic animals might be marvels of nature, but no doctor suspects that they have anything to do with disease, let alone infections.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
The triumph of modern humanity over our savage natures.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
McEwan’s elegantly structured and provocative novel is a strong argument for how little raw data, or even the most sublime art, can tell us about humans and their contrary natures.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2025
Dogs are particularly affected because of their often voracious appetites and generally unfussy natures.
From Salon ● Mar. 28, 2024
Although the origins of the feud are unclear, some observers attributed it to the pair’s competitive natures.
From New York Times ● Nov. 6, 2023
In consequence I'm inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores.
From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
