adj B1 Intermediate Common

intense

ihn-TEHNS

Intense (adj) means Extremely strong, forceful, or extreme in degree. Example: “The heat was intense enough to melt the tarmac.”

adj

Extremely strong, forceful, or extreme in degree.

"The heat was intense enough to melt the tarmac."

"She felt an intense wave of relief when the plane landed safely."

Describing a person who is very serious, focused, or emotionally passionate.

"He's a bit intense — he takes everything very seriously."

How to use intense

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishVery strong or extreme — used for feelings, heat, effort, or a person's manner.

Common pairings

intense pressure intense heat intense focus

Word forms

intenser comparative, more intense comparative, intensest superlative, most intense superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The heat was _____ enough to melt the tarmac.

Etymology

From Latin intensus, "stretched tight, strained," from intendere, "to stretch out."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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fierce extreme acute severe powerful passionate

Related words

final strong moving effective powerful sad patient excellent

Rhymes for intense

tense sense dense incense immense offense license expense defense nonsense condense dispense

See all rhymes for intense →

Frequently asked questions

What does “intense” mean?

The word “intense” means extremely strong, forceful, or extreme in degree. In plain terms, very strong or extreme — used for feelings, heat, effort, or a person's manner.

How do you pronounce “intense”?

“Intense” is pronounced ihn-TEHNS (/ɪnˈtɛns/ in IPA).

How do you use “intense” in a sentence?

Here is “intense” used in a sentence: “The heat was intense enough to melt the tarmac.”

What part of speech is “intense”?

“Intense” is an adjective.

Where does the word “intense” come from?

The word “intense” comes from Latin. From Latin intensus, "stretched tight, strained," from intendere, "to stretch out.".

Is “intense” a common word?

“Intense” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “intense” have?

“Intense” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely strong, forceful, or extreme in degree.

What is the difference between intense and intensive?

"Intense" describes something extremely strong or extreme in degree, such as intense heat, intense pain, or intense pressure. "Intensive" describes something concentrated, involving a great deal of effort or activity in a short time, such as an intensive course or intensive care. Swapping them is a common mistake: a feeling is intense, while a training programme is intensive.

What are common collocations with intense?

"Intense" frequently pairs with nouns of force or feeling: intense heat, intense pressure, intense pain, intense competition, intense scrutiny, and intense debate. It also modifies emotions directly, as in intense fear or intense joy.

Is intense formal or informal?

"Intense" is register-neutral and works in both academic writing and everyday speech. In casual conversation it is also used as a standalone reaction, as in "That was intense!", meaning an experience was overwhelming or dramatic.

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