What does introverted mean?
Introverted means primarily oriented toward inner experience rather than social interaction. A person described as introverted may prefer solitary or small-group activities, think before speaking, and recover energy from quiet periods. The term does not necessarily mean shy, antisocial, or unable to engage socially; an introverted person can be confident, warm, and highly effective in interactions. In psychology, introversion is generally associated with a preference for reflection, concentration, and demanding or meaningful activities over broad, shallow social stimulation. As an adjective, introverted can describe a person, personality, temperament, or style of behavior. Its usual counterpart is extroverted, meaning more outwardly focused and socially energetic. Although introverted and extroverted are often presented as a simple contrast, personality is continuous rather than neatly divided into two types.
Characteristic of a person who is inclined toward inward attention, reflection, or limited social interaction.
"Her introverted manner made her seem distant at first, though she was quite friendly once she knew the group."
Often used in psychology and ordinary description; it should not be treated as synonymous with shyness.
A person whose personality is primarily characterized by inward attention and a preference for quieter or less demanding social activities.
"As an introvert, she preferred a quiet evening at home to a crowded party."
Used for people characterized by an introverted personality or preference for inward, quieter activities.
"The workshop included introverts, extroverts, and people who combined qualities of both."
The word popularized the idea that personality can be understood in terms of where attention and energy flow: inward toward the self, or outward toward the social world.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does introverted come from?
The word is formed from the prefix intro-, meaning “inward” or “within,” and the Latin-derived root vert, meaning “turn.” The related noun introvert and the process noun introversion were developed during the early 20th century in discussions of personality, and the terms were popularized by the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. Their opposites, extrovert and extroversion, were formed in parallel from the Latin root extra-, meaning “outside.”
Related word forms
How introverted is actually used
Generally neutral and commonly used in psychology, education, and everyday description. It is sometimes used loosely for anyone who is quiet, although introversion does not necessarily imply shyness or dislike of other people. The paired term extroverted is more common in general use than the rarer adjective introverse.
Easily confused with introverted
An introvert is a person who prefers quieter, less socially demanding activities, whereas introverted is the adjective describing such a person or their behavior.