intensive
ihn-TEHN-sihv
Intensive (adj) means involving a lot of effort or activity concentrated in a short period; thorough. Example: “The football team followed an intensive training programme before the final.”
adj
1
Involving a lot of effort or activity concentrated in a short period; thorough.
"The football team followed an intensive training programme before the final."
"I took a three-day intensive course in finance."
"She took an intensive Spanish course over the summer."
"He's in intensive care following the surgery."
How to use intensive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishConcentrated and thorough — a lot packed into a short space of time or effort.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
intensive care
intensive training
labor-intensive
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like intensive.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- intensives
- Comparative
- more intensive
- Superlative
- most intensive
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The football team followed an _____ training programme before the final.
Etymology
From Old French intensif, based on Latin intensus, "stretched, intense."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for intensive
See all rhymes for intensive →Frequently asked questions
What does “intensive” mean?
The word “intensive” means involving a lot of effort or activity concentrated in a short period; thorough. In plain terms, concentrated and thorough — a lot packed into a short space of time or effort.
How do you pronounce “intensive”?
“Intensive” is pronounced ihn-TEHN-sihv (/ɪnˈtɛnsɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “intensive” in a sentence?
Here is “intensive” used in a sentence: “She took an intensive Spanish course over the summer.”
What part of speech is “intensive”?
“Intensive” is an adjective.
Where does the word “intensive” come from?
The word “intensive” comes from Latin. From Old French intensif, based on Latin intensus, "stretched, intense.".
Is “intensive” a common word?
“Intensive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between intense and intensive?
Intense means very great or extreme in degree, describing the quality itself: intense heat, intense pressure. Intensive means involving concentrated effort or activity in a short period, describing how something is organized: an intensive course, intensive care. A course can be intensive while the workload it creates feels intense.
Is it "for all intensive purposes" or "for all intents and purposes"?
The correct phrase is for all intents and purposes, meaning "in every practical sense." "For all intensive purposes" is a common mishearing and is considered an error in writing.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include intensive:
