Understanding or awareness of one's mental or emotional state or condition. 2. : immediate and clear understanding (as seeing the solution to a problem or the means to reaching a goal) that takes place without recourse to overt trial-and-error behavior. Understanding or awareness of one's mental or emotional state or condition. 2. : immediate and clear understanding (as seeing the solution to a problem or the means to reaching a goal) that takes place without recourse to overt trial-and-error behavior.