Sensitive To: Standard Pattern
Sensitive To: Standard Pattern records a directly documented English construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced pattern rather than inventing a broader prohibition.
Use “sensitive to” when describing a person or thing as easily affected by a stimulus, criticism, need, condition, or other influence.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| easily physically affected by a stimulus | sensitive to + stimulus | Use “sensitive to” for the affected-by relation. |
| easily affected by criticism, change, or conditions | sensitive to + noun | Use the same construction when the influence is emotional, social, or situational. |
| aware of and responsive to people’s needs or concerns | sensitive to + needs/concerns | Context can make the meaning positive responsiveness rather than vulnerability. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you saying that the person or thing is readily affected by, responsive to, or aware of the following influence?
If yes: Use “sensitive to” + noun/phrase.
If no: If you mean a different relationship, choose the preposition or construction required by that meaning rather than extending this pattern automatically.
Caveat: “Sensitive to” covers several related senses; context tells whether the emphasis is physical reaction, susceptibility, or awareness.
Examples
Her eyes are sensitive to bright light.
The stimulus after “to” is what readily affects the eyes.
The market is sensitive to sudden policy changes.
The construction can describe responsiveness to changing conditions.
A good manager is sensitive to the needs of the team.
Here the phrase expresses awareness and responsiveness rather than physical sensitivity.
Further guidance
Construction
Use “sensitive to” when describing a person or thing as easily affected by a stimulus, criticism, need, condition, or other influence.
Style Boundary
Cambridge also records other complements such as “sensitive about,” so this page documents the “to” construction without claiming that every use of “sensitive” requires it.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- SENSITIVE | English meaning — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Direct dictionary evidence for the “sensitive to” construction and its affected-by meaning.