English Explanatory Dictionary

intense

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj

Of a characteristic: extreme or very high or strong in degree; severe; also, excessive, towering.
Of a thing: possessing some characteristic to an extreme or very high or strong degree.
Of feelings, thoughts, etc.: strongly focused; ardent, deep, earnest, passionate.
Of a person: very emotional or passionate.
Under tension; tightly drawn; strained, stressed, tense.

Pronunciation

/ɪnˈtɛns/ En-us-intense.ogg

Word forms

intense intenser more intense intensest most intense

Etymology

From Late Middle English intens, intense (“ardent, fervent; extreme, great, intense”), borrowed from Old French intense (modern French intense), or directly from its etymon Latin intēnsus (“strained, stretched tight; intense; attentive; violent; (rare) eager, intent”), the perfect passive participle of intendō (“to stretch out, strain”), from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside, within’) + tendō (“to extend, stretch”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tend- (“to extend, stretch”)).

Synonyms

maximal ultimate utmost extreme ferocious exquisite intense almighty greatest highest maximum passing raging uttermost devilish excessive extravagant immoderate intemperate lavish nimious obscene overmuch overweening over the top prodigal undue unmeasured unreasonable unrestrained wanton

Related words

disintensify intensification intensified intensifier intensifying intensive reintensify

Derived words

hyperintense hypointense intensate intensation intensely intensen intenseness intensification intensify intensity isointense nonintense overintense superintense ultraintense unintense

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