introverted

English

Etymology

From introvert +‎ -ed, q.v.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɪn.tɹəˌvɜːɹ.təd/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Verb

introverted

  1. simple past and past participle of introvert

Adjective

introverted (comparative more introverted, superlative most introverted)

  1. Turned or thrust inward, particularly:
    1. Thinking about internal or spiritual matters.
      • 1782, William Cowper, “Conversation”, in Poems, l. 230:
        ...Self-searching with an introverted eye...
    2. (psychology) Of or characteristic of the personality of an introvert: thoughtful, reflective.
      • 1915, Carl Jung, “On Psychological Understanding”, in Journal of Abnormal Psychology, number 9, page 397:
        An extraverted individual can hardly understand the necessity that forces the introverted to accomplish his adaptation by first formulating a general conception.
      • 1916, Constance Ellen Long transl. Carl Jung as Collected Papers on Analytical Psychology, p. 348
        The introverted type is characterised by the fact that his libido is turned towards his own personality to a certain extent.
      • 1968, Charles Rycroft, A Critical Dictionary of Psychoanalysis, page 48:
        There is a tendency to equate ‘introverted’ with ‘withdrawn’ or ‘schizoid’.
      • 2025 August 17, Sarah Avi, “Meet the “Otrovert,” A New Personality Type That May Describe You Better Than Anything”, in Free Jupiter‎[1], archived from the original on 15 May 2026:
        This subtle but important distinction means otroverts can blend into both introverted and extroverted environments without fully belonging to either.
    3. (poetry, literature) Arranged so that two similar words, lines, etc. form the middle of the structure.
      • 1896, Richard Green Moulton, The Literary Study of the Bible, page 50:
        In the Quatrain Reversed or Introverted, the first line corresponds with the fourth.

Alternative forms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

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