Intense is used to describe something that is very great or extreme in strength or degree.
He was sweating from the intense heat.
Suddenly the room filled with intense light.
Stevens's murder was the result of a deep-seated and intense hatred.
His threats become more intense, agitated, and frequent.
Synonyms: extreme, great, severe, fierce More Synonyms of intense
intenselyadverb
The fast-food business is intensely competitive.
Synonyms: very, highly, extremely, greatly More Synonyms of intense
intensity (ɪntensɪti)Word forms: plural intensitiesvariable noun [usually with poss]
The attack was anticipated but its intensity came as a shock.
Synonyms: force, power, strength, severity More Synonyms of intense
2. adjective
If you describe an activity as intense, you mean that it is very serious and concentrated, and often involves doing a great deal in a short time.
The battle for third place was intense.
The military on both sides are involved in intense activity.
Synonyms: fierce, close, tough More Synonyms of intense
3. adjective
If you describe the way someone looks at you as intense, you mean that they look at you very directly and seem to know what you are thinking or feeling.
I felt so self-conscious under Luke's mother's intense gaze.
He gazed at me with those intense blue eyes.
intenselyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
He sipped his drink, staring intensely at me.
Synonyms: intently, deeply, seriously [informal], profoundly More Synonyms of intense
4. adjective
If you describe a person as intense, you mean that they appear to concentrate very hard on everything that they do, and they feel and show their emotions in a very extreme way.
I know he's an intense player, but he does enjoy what he's doing.
She is taller than I imagined, more adult, more intense.
Synonyms: passionate, burning, earnest, emotional More Synonyms of intense
intensityuncountable noun
His intensity and the ferocity of his feelings alarmed me.
Synonyms: passion, emotion, fervour, force More Synonyms of intense
intense in British English
(ɪnˈtɛns)
adjective
1.
of extreme force, strength, degree, or amount
intense heat
2.
characterized by deep or forceful feelings
an intense person
▶ USAGE Intense is sometimes wrongly used where intensive is meant: the land is under intensive (not intense) cultivation. Intensely is sometimes wrongly used where intently is meant: he listened intently (not intensely)
Derived forms
intensely (inˈtensely)
adverb
intenseness (inˈtenseness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin intensus stretched, from intendere to stretch out; see intend
intense in American English
(ɪnˈtɛns)
adjective
1.
occurring or existing in a high degree; very strong; violent, extreme, sharp, vivid, etc.
an intense light
2.
strained to the utmost; strenuous; earnest; fervent; zealous
intense thought
3.
having or showing strong emotion, firm purpose, great seriousness, etc.
an intense person
4.
characterized by much action, emotion, etc.
Derived forms
intensely (inˈtensely)
adverb
intenseness (inˈtenseness)
noun
Word origin
ME < MFr < L intensus, pp. of intendere: see intend
Examples of 'intense' in a sentence
intense
Campaigners criticised the intense scrutiny of the woman.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The statistics continue to show that there is intense pressure around the country.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The decline in some areas could be good news since competition for places becomes less intense.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The affair occurred as the company was under intense pressure from discounting rivals.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
By day the heat was intense.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
From here, the scrutiny be intense.
The Sun (2016)
Warm and welcoming sunshine has replaced the intense heat of high summer, and the gardens are returning to life.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The recognition that Illinois and Indiana may easily decide this election and the impossibility of saying which way they will go have produced intense activity.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was a moment of intense joy and deep sadness.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We only walked for four hours today because of the intense heat and steep incline.
The Sun (2009)
Blue days invariably follow my periods of most intense activity.
Christianity Today (2000)
The romance is a subtle and intense battle of wills.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The game has become so intense that one man cannot provide all the leadership.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In between there were some really competitive and intense points.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
With the high concentration of businesses has come intense competition.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You have a more relaxed attitude to relationships and love is less intense and more successful.
The Sun (2010)
The searing heat and intense humidity was his biggest challenge.
The Sun (2015)
She faces an intense battle to maintain her position.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This has been the centre of intense competition for the jobs that are available.
Davey, Ray Rev. & Cole, John A Channel of Peace (1993)
The focus will now turn to the summer athletes and the pressures of performing under intense national scrutiny.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There is intense pressure on both companies and fund groups to deliver good results and please their shareholders and investors.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It might also explain why many great golfers are older before coming to grips with the intense pressure of the final day.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The intense blue of its flowers works equally well with bright golden yellow, orange or crimson.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You know, those intense moods and physical symptoms the week before your period.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He fixed me with his eyes - they were a very brilliant and intense blue.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
After five days of intense scrutiny, he did not care a jot.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
To know intense joy without a strong bodily frame, one must have an enthusiastic soul.
George Eliot Middlemarch (1872)
It is as intense and competitive, possibly more so.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It needs a sunny wall or fence and a neutral to alkaline soil, where it will become smothered in intense blue flowers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The UK countryside is unable to bear this intense industrial activity.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
intense
British English: intense /ɪnˈtɛns/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is intense is very great in strength or degree.
The pain was intense.
American English: intense
Arabic: شَدِيدٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: intenso
Chinese: 强烈的
Croatian: žestok
Czech: intenzivní
Danish: intens
Dutch: intens
European Spanish: intenso
Finnish: voimakas
French: intense
German: intensiv
Greek: έντονος
Italian: intenso
Japanese: 強烈な
Korean: 강렬한
Norwegian: intens
Polish: intensywny
European Portuguese: intenso
Romanian: intens
Russian: сильный
Latin American Spanish: intenso
Swedish: intensiv
Thai: รุนแรง
Turkish: yoğun
Ukrainian: сильний
Vietnamese: rất căng
All related terms of 'intense'
intense fire
You can use fire to refer to the shots fired from a gun or guns.
intense focus
The focus of something is the main topic or main thing that it is concerned with.
intense pain
Pain is the feeling of great discomfort you have, for example when you have been hurt or when you are ill .
intense battle
A battle is a violent fight between groups of people, especially one between military forces during a war.
intense feeling
A feeling is an emotion, such as anger or happiness.
intense flavour
The flavour of a food or drink is its taste.
intense workout
A workout is a period of physical exercise or training.
intense activity
Activity is a situation in which a lot of things are happening or being done.
intense emotions
An emotion is a feeling such as happiness, love, fear , anger , or hatred , which can be caused by the situation that you are in or the people you are with.
intense pressure
If there is pressure on a person, someone is trying to persuade or force them to do something.
intense scrutiny
If a person or thing is under scrutiny , they are being studied or observed very carefully.
intense negotiations
Negotiations are formal discussions between people who have different aims or intentions , especially in business or politics , during which they try to reach an agreement.
Chinese translation of 'intense'
intense
(ɪnˈtɛns)
adj
(= great)
[heat, pain]剧(劇)烈的 (jùliè de)
[anger, joy, desire]强(強)烈的 (qiángliè de)
[competition]激烈的 (jīliè de)
[person]认(認)真的 (rènzhēn de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
of very great force, strength, degree, or amount
He was sweating from the intense heat.
Synonyms
extreme
people living in extreme poverty
great
severe
The fence collapsed during the recent severe weather.
fierce
the teeth of some fierce animal
serious (informal)
His condition was serious but stable.
deep
a period of deep personal crisis
powerful
in the grip of a powerful emotion
concentrated
She makes a concentrated effort to keep her feet on the ground.
supreme
acute
a patient with acute rheumatoid arthritis
harsh
He said many harsh and unkind things.
intensive
several days and nights of intensive negotiations
excessive
profound
A profound silence fell.
exquisite
His words gave her exquisite pain.
drastic
Drastic measures are needed.
forceful
protracted
unqualified
agonizing
mother of all (informal)
Opposites
moderate,
mild
,
easy
,
relaxed
,
slight
,
gentle
2 (adjective)
The battle for third place was intense.
Synonyms
fierce
Two climbers were trapped by a fierce storm.
close
His recent actions have been the subject of close scrutiny.
tough
3 (adjective)
Definition
characterized by deep or forceful feelings
Her reaction to the news was more intense than I had imagined.
Synonyms
passionate
He made a passionate speech about his commitment to peace.
burning
I had a burning ambition to become a journalist.
earnest
Rupert was an earnest young man.
emotional
I don't get as emotional as I once did.
keen
a keen sense of loyalty
flaming
We had a flaming row last night.
consuming
fierce
eager
He looked at the crowd of eager faces around him.
enthusiastic
The band drew a huge and enthusiastic crowd.
heightened
energetic
animated
Everyone became more animated.
ardent
an ardent lover
fanatical
As a boy he was a fanatical patriot.
fervent
a fervent admirer of her work
heartfelt
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the relatives.
impassioned
He made an impassioned appeal for peace.
vehement
There has been widespread and vehement condemnation of the attack.
forcible
fervid
Opposites
cool
,
casual
,
indifferent
,
weak
,
subdued
Usage note
Intense is sometimes wrongly used where intensive is meant: the land is under intensive (not intense) cultivation. Intensely is sometimes wrongly used where intently is meant: he listened intently (not intensely).