introversion

UK: /ˌɪntrəˈvɜːʃən/

US: /ˌɪntrəˈvɝʒən, -ʃən/

US: (in′trə vûr′zhən, -shən, in′trə vûr′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•tro•ver•sion  (in′trə vûr′zhən, -shən, in′trə vûr′-), n. 

1. the act of introverting or the state of being introverted.
2. the quality, tendency, or disposition of being introverted.
3. Psychology
   • the act of directing one's interest inward or to things within the self.
   • the state of being concerned primarily with one's own thoughts and feelings rather than with the external environment. Cf. extroversion.

• Neo-Latin intrōversiōn- (stem of intrōversiō). See intro-, version
• 1645–55; 1910–15 for def. 3

in•tro•ver•sive  (in′trə vûr′siv), in•tro•ver•tive  (in′trə vûr′tiv), adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

introversion / ˌɪntrəˈvɜːʃən/ noun

1. the directing of interest inwards towards one's own thoughts and feelings rather than towards the external world or making social contacts

Compare extroversion

ˌintroˈversive, ˌintroˈvertive adjective

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•tro•vert /ˈɪntrəˌvɜrt/   n. [countable]

1. a shy or retiring person.

in•tro•ver•sion /ˌɪntrəˈvɜrʒən, -ʃən/  n. [uncountable]
in•tro•vert•ed, adj. See -vert-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•tro•vert  (n., adj. in′trə vûrt′;v. in′trə vûrt′), n. 

1. a shy person.
2. Psychology a person characterized by concern primarily with his or her own thoughts and feelings (opposed to extrovert).
3. Zoology a part that is or can be introverted.

adj. 

4. Psychology marked by introversion.

v.t. 

5. to turn inward:
   to introvert one's anger.
6. Psychology to direct (the mind, one's interest, etc.) partly to things within the self.
7. Zoology, Anatomy [Anat., Zool.] to turn (a hollow, cylindrical structure) in on itself;
   invaginate.

• intro- + (in)vert 1660–70