Collocations for sense - noun
1. one of the five natural physical powers of the body
ADJ.
acute, good, keen | poor | sixth
VERB + SENSE
have
He has an acute sense of smell.
He has an acute sense of smell.
lose
She lost her sense of hearing early in life.
She lost her sense of hearing early in life.
regain | heighten, sharpen | dull | appeal to
He argued that art should appeal to the senses rather than the intellect.
He argued that art should appeal to the senses rather than the intellect.
SENSE + VERB
tell sb
When she came to, her senses told her she was lying on a sandy beach.
When she came to, her senses told her she was lying on a sandy beach.
reel, swim
Her senses reeled as she fought for consciousness.
Her senses reeled as she fought for consciousness.
SENSE + NOUN
organ
PREP.
through the ~s
Although he can''t see, he learns a lot through his other senses.
Although he can''t see, he learns a lot through his other senses.
PHRASES
an assault on the senses, the evidence of your senses, the five senses, the sense of hearing/sight/smell/taste/touch
2. understanding/awareness of sth
ADJ.
deep, great, keen, strong, tremendous
He felt a deep sense of relief after the phone call.
He felt a deep sense of relief after the phone call.
growing, heightened | slight, vague
a vague sense of unease
a vague sense of unease
innate, intuitive, natural
a natural sense of justice
a natural sense of justice
moral
VERB + SENSE
feel, have | display, show | give sb | lose | heighten, sharpen | dull
PREP.
~ of
He seems to have lost his sense of reality.
He seems to have lost his sense of reality.
3. natural ability to do/produce sth well
ADJ.
good | bad, poor | innate, intuitive, natural | business, dress
He has no dress sense.
He has no dress sense.
VERB + SENSE
have
PREP.
~ of
a good sense of direction/rhythm/timing
a good sense of direction/rhythm/timing
4. ability to think/act in a sensible way
ADJ.
good | common, horse
Common sense tells me I should get more sleep.
Common sense tells me I should get more sleep.
VERB + SENSE
have
He at least had the sense to call the police.
He at least had the sense to call the police.
display, show | learn
I wish my daughter would learn some sense.
I wish my daughter would learn some sense.
SENSE + VERB
tell sb
PHRASES
have more money than sense, (not) an ounce of sense
If you had an ounce of sense, you''d never have agreed to help him.
If you had an ounce of sense, you''d never have agreed to help him.
5. reason
ADJ.
perfect
It all makes perfect sense (= is easy to understand).
It all makes perfect sense (= is easy to understand).
VERB + SENSE
make | see
I tried to make him see sense, but he just wouldn''t listen.
I tried to make him see sense, but he just wouldn''t listen.
talk
If you can''t talk sense, I''m leaving!
If you can''t talk sense, I''m leaving!
PREP.
~ in
There''s a lot of sense in what he''s saying.
There''s a lot of sense in what he''s saying.
PHRASES
talk sense into sb
We''ll try and talk a little sense into her.
We''ll try and talk a little sense into her.
there''s no sense in sth
There''s no sense in going home before the film.
There''s no sense in going home before the film.
6. your senses: ability to think clearly
VERB + SENSE
come to, regain | take leave of
Have you taken leave of your senses?
Have you taken leave of your senses?
bring sb to
PHRASES
in your (right) senses
No one in their right senses would give him the job!
No one in their right senses would give him the job!
7. meaning
ADJ.
broad, wide
The novel is about education in its widest sense.
The novel is about education in its widest sense.
narrow, strict | accepted | figurative, metaphorical | literal | pejorative | legal, technical
VERB + SENSE
have
That word has three senses.
That word has three senses.
make
That sentence doesn''t make sense (= has no meaning).
That sentence doesn''t make sense (= has no meaning).
PREP.
in a ~
In a sense, she''s right.
In a sense, she''s right.
PHRASES
in every sense of the word, in a very real sense
In a very real sense, post-war repression was the continuation of the war.
In a very real sense, post-war repression was the continuation of the war.
in the true sense of the word