Word
intimate
Phoneticsin·ti·mate, stress on the first syllable
/ˈɪnəmət/
Definitions
01closely acquainted
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having a very close and friendly relationship with someone.
adj. characterised by a close personal relationship or deep familiarity.
日本語:親しい※
“They have been intimate friends since they were children in primary school.”
“The biography provides an intimate look at the artist's life, drawing on letters that had never been published before.”
02private or quiet
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. private and personal, or describing a place that is quiet and comfortable for a small group.
adj. pertaining to one's innermost feelings or describing a setting conducive to privacy and close rapport.
Español:íntimo
“The restaurant was small and intimate, perfect for a quiet conversation.”
“The singer performed an intimate acoustic set for a small group of fans in a converted warehouse.”
Antonyms
03sexual
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. involved in a sexual relationship.
adj. involved in or related to a sexual relationship; often used as a polite or formal euphemism.
“The couple admitted they were in an intimate relationship.”
“The court heard evidence regarding their intimate history to determine the nature of their long-term partnership.”
Antonyms
04to suggest
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to suggest something in an indirect way.
v. to communicate or state something in an indirect or subtle manner. Often used with a 'that' clause.
“He intimated that he might be looking for a new job soon.”
“The minister intimated that a change in policy was forthcoming, though he refused to provide specific details to the press.”
Usage
The verb is pronounced differently than the adjective, ending with a 'long A' sound like 'late'.
05a close friend
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Literary · Formal
n. a very close friend that you know extremely well.
n. a person with whom one has a particularly close or private relationship.
“Only his closest intimates knew about his plans to retire early.”
“The monarch rarely discussed matters of state with anyone outside a tiny circle of trusted intimates.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “intimate” in context.
Verb
01. become intimate with the details
“Before the trial began, the lawyer had to become intimate with the details of the case.”
verb + adj + prep + noun
02. intimate that the project was failing
“Although he didn't say it directly, the manager intimated that the project was failing due to a lack of funding.”
verb + that-clause
Adjective
03. intimate knowledge of the subject
“The professor's intimate knowledge of the subject allowed her to answer even the most obscure questions.”
adj + noun + prep + noun
04. intimate setting
“The restaurant's dim lighting and soft music created an intimate setting for their anniversary dinner.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. intimate circle of friends
“She prefers to celebrate her birthday with only her intimate circle of friends.”
adj + noun + prep + noun
06. intimate portrait of the artist
“The documentary provides an intimate portrait of the artist's daily life and struggles.”
adj + noun + prep + noun
Adverb
07. deeply intimate
“Sharing their childhood secrets was a deeply intimate moment for the two siblings.”
adv + adj
Real-World Examples
“For a singer who sang all across the world, it will be an intimate farewell in the place she called home.” “Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian The nature of the work is immediately intimate – his PA, says Keron, is the person he sees at the start and end of each day.” “Peeters was known for intimate still lifes reflecting the transience of this world, says Osiecki.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin intimātus, the perfect passive participle of intimō (“to put or bring into, to impress, to make familiar”) (see -ate (adjective forming suffix)), from intimus (“inmost, innermost, most intimate”), superlative of intus (“within”), from in (“in”); see interior.
From a substantivization of the above adjective, see -ate (noun-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more.
From Latin intimātus, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more. Cognate with French intimer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/intimate
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0