# intense

/ˌɪnˈtɛns/ (US) · /ɪntˈɛns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/intense
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. strong or extreme

adjective · CEFR B2

very strong or extreme in degree, like heat, pain, or light.

For teachers: existing in an extreme degree; characterized by high force, power, or intensity of a physical or abstract quality.

- The heat from the desert sun was so intense that we had to stay indoors.
- The rescue team worked under intense pressure to reach the trapped miners before the oxygen supply became critically low.

### 2. deep feelings

adjective · CEFR B2

showing very strong feelings, focus, or serious thought.

For teachers: characterized by strong emotional involvement, deep earnestness, or concentrated mental effort.

- They shared an intense love for classical music and spent every weekend at the opera.
- After months of intense study, the researchers finally identified the specific gene responsible for the mutation.

### 3. serious personality

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

describing a person who has very strong opinions or emotions and takes things very seriously.

For teachers: describing an individual whose personality is marked by extreme earnestness, emotional depth, or a demanding nature.

- My new boss is very intense and expects everyone to work as hard as she does.
- He has an intense personality that some colleagues find intimidating, though no one questions his dedication to the project.

## Examples

- The heat from the sun is very intense today.
- After two weeks of intense training, the athletes were finally ready for the national competition.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.