sensible

Universal Words adjective 1 (of people and their behaviour) able to make good judgements based on reason and experience rather than emotion; practical: a sensible person / decision / precaution * I think that's a very sensible idea. * Say something sensible. * I think the sensible thing would be to take a taxi home. 2 (of clothes, etc.) useful rather than fashionable: sensible shoes 3 (formal or literary) aware of sth: I am sensible of the fact that mathematics is not a popular subject. OPPfor sense 3 INSENSIBLE HELPNOTE Use silly (sense 1) or impractical (senses 1 and 2) as the opposite for the other senses. sensibly adverb: to eat / behave / drive / talk sensibly * He decided, very sensibly, not to drive when he was so tired. * She's always very sensibly dressed. ______________________________ WHICHWORD? sensible / sensitive Sensible and sensitive are connected with 2 different meanings of sense. Sensible refers to your ability to make good judgements: She gave me some very sensible advice. * It wasn't very sensible to go out on your own so late at night. Sensitive refers to how easily you react to things and how much you are aware of things or other people: a soap for sensitive skin * This movie may upset a sensitive child. ______________________________