ENGLISH
REFERENCE

intense

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˌɪnˈtɛns// UK //ɪntˈɛns// in·tense Academic General-service

adj. very strong or extreme. You use this to describe feelings, light, or work that requires a lot of effort and focus.

adj. existing in an extreme degree or characterized by great force, energy, or effort. Frequently used to describe sensory input, emotional states, or concentrated activity.


SIMPLE

The heat from the sun is very intense today.

CONTEXTUAL

After two weeks of intense training, the athletes were finally ready for the national competition.

COMPLEX

The debate grew increasingly intense as both sides refused to compromise on the fundamental principles of the proposed legislation, leading to a complete deadlock by midnight.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

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”)).

Usage

Typically precedes the noun it modifies or follows a linking verb. Often modified by degree adverbs like 'extremely' or 'unusually'.

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