Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense intensifies, present participle intensifying, past tense, past participle intensified
verb
If you intensify something or if it intensifies, it becomes greater in strength, amount, or degree.
Britain is intensifying its efforts to secure the release of the hostages. [VERB noun]
The conflict is almost bound to intensify. [VERB]
Synonyms: escalate, increase, extend, widen More Synonyms of intensify
intensification (ɪntensɪfɪkeɪʃən)uncountable noun
The intensification of the debt crisis was hurting the entire region. [+ of]
Synonyms: increase, rise, build-up, expansion More Synonyms of intensify
More Synonyms of intensify
intensify in British English
(ɪnˈtɛnsɪˌfaɪ)
verbWord forms: -fies, -fying or -fied
1.
to make or become intense or more intense
2. (transitive)
to increase the density of (a photographic film or plate)
Derived forms
intensification (inˌtensifiˈcation)
noun
intensify in American English
(ɪnˈtɛnsəˌfaɪ)
verb transitiveWord forms: inˈtensiˌfied or inˈtensiˌfying
1.
to make intense or more intense; increase; strengthen
2. Photography
to make (a film, etc.) more dense or opaque by treating with an intensifier
verb intransitive
3.
to become intense or increase in intensity
SYNONYMY NOTE: intensify implies an increasing in the degree of force, vehemence, vividness, etc. [his absence only intensified her longing]; aggravate implies a making more serious, unbearable, etc. and connotes something that is unpleasantor troublesome in itself [your insolence only aggravates the offense]; to heighten is to make greater, stronger, more vivid, etc. so as to raise above the ordinaryor commonplace [music served to heighten the effect]; enhance implies the addition of something so as to make more attractive or desirable [she used cosmetics to enhance her beauty]
OPPOSITES: diminish, mitigate
Derived forms
intensification (inˌtensifiˈcation)
noun
Examples of 'intensify' in a sentence
intensify
These pressures will only intensify with spiralling demand for emergency services and increasingly tight budgets.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The disclosures intensified pressure on ministers to act.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And the funding pressures will only intensify as these foreign aid sums soar.
The Sun (2016)
The competition has intensified on all fronts.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But it may also be increased by intensifying the production inputs.
Harris, Marvin Cultural Anthropology (1995)
It is only prudent to maintain and intensify that pressure.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That is a rank bad idea that would intensify the housing crisis.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And it was reading these reports that encouraged me to intensify my efforts.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And they have helped to intensify a renewed crisis of psychiatric legitimacy.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
Technology at once enhances the efficiency of road and rail while intensifying the competition between the two modes.
Goddard, Stephen B. Getting There: The Epic Struggle between Road and Rail in the American Century (1994)
Such a conflict can only intensify the obsessive way in which parents turn their parenting style into a cause.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Competition is also likely to intensify.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And the domestic competition will intensify.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We intensified our efforts with multiplication.
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
The rising population will intensify the housing crisis after other official figures showed increases in renting and overcrowding over the past decade.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
When grandfather and brother are also big names in the same environment, the pressures intensify.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Universities raised record amounts from donations last year as they intensified efforts to encourage an American-style alumni culture.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He says the grocery group has no need to resort to the aggressive selling tactics that have plagued the telecoms industry as competition intensified.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
SO whose side are you on in this intensifying conflict between man and seagull?
The Sun (2015)
A growing body of research confirms that rapid demographic transition intensifies social conflict.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The delays in construction have also intensified security worries, as too little time has been left to lock down venues.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The US is also intensifying diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
intensify
British English: intensify VERB
If you intensify something or if it intensifies, it becomes greater in strength, amount, or degree.
I jump, intensifying the pain in all my muscles.
American English: intensify
Brazilian Portuguese: intensificar
Chinese: 强化
European Spanish: intensificar
French: augmenter
German: intensivieren
Italian: intensificare
Japanese: 強める/強まる
Korean: 강화하다
European Portuguese: intensificar
Latin American Spanish: intensificar
Chinese translation of 'intensify'
intensify
(ɪnˈtɛnsɪfaɪ)
vt
[efforts, pressure]加强(強) (jiāqiáng)
vi
[efforts, pressure]加剧(劇) (jiājù)
1 (verb)
Definition
to make or become intense or more intense
They are intensifying their efforts to secure the release of the hostages.
Synonyms
increase
The company has increased the price of its cars.
boost
They need to take action to boost sales.
raise
Two incidents in recent days have raised the level of concern.
extend
They have added three new products to extend their range.
concentrate
add to
strengthen
Every day of sunshine strengthens the feeling of optimism.
enhance
They want to enhance their reputation abroad.
compound
Additional bloodshed will only compound the misery.
reinforce
This sense of privilege tends to be reinforced by the outside world.
step up (informal)
emphasize
widen
heighten
sharpen
magnify
The telescope magnifies images over 11 times.
amplify
The music was amplified with microphones.
augment
She was searching for a way to augment her income.
redouble
Opposites
weaken
,
lessen
,
diminish
, decrease,
dilute
,
minimize
,
dull
,
damp down
2 (verb)
Definition
to make or become intense or more intense
The conflict is almost bound to intensify.
Synonyms
escalate
Defeat could cause one side or the other to escalate the conflict.
increase
The population continues to increase.
extend
widen
The river widens considerably as it begins to turn east.
heighten
The move has heightened tension in the state.
deepen
Sloane's uneasiness deepened.
Further job losses deepened the gloom.
quicken
Seejack up
Synonyms of 'intensify'
intensify
Explore 'intensify' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of compound
Definition
to intensify by an added element
Additional bloodshed will only compound the misery.
Synonyms
intensify,
add to,
complicate,
worsen,
heighten,
exacerbate,
aggravate,
magnify,
augment,
add insult to injury
in the sense of deepen
Definition
to make or become deeper or more intense
Sloane's uneasiness deepened.Further job losses deepened the gloom.
Synonyms
intensify,
increase,
grow,
strengthen,
reinforce,
escalate,
magnify,
augment
in the sense of enhance
Definition
to improve or increase in quality, value, or power
They want to enhance their reputation abroad.
Synonyms
improve,
better,
increase,
raise,
lift,
boost,
add to,
strengthen,
reinforce,
swell,
intensify,
heighten,
elevate,
magnify,
augment,
exalt,
embellish,
ameliorate
in the sense of extend
Definition
to broaden the meaning or scope of
They have added three new products to extend their range.
Synonyms
widen,
increase,
develop,
expand,
spread,
add to,
enhance,
supplement,
enlarge,
broaden,
diversify,
amplify,
augment
in the sense of heighten
Definition
to make or become higher or more intense
The move has heightened tension in the state.
Synonyms
intensify,
increase,
add to,
improve,
strengthen,
enhance,
sharpen,
aggravate,
magnify,
amplify,
augment
in the sense of magnify
Definition
to make something look bigger than it really is, for instance by using a lens or microscope
The telescope magnifies images over 11 times.
Synonyms
enlarge,
increase,
boost,
expand,
intensify,
blow up (informal),
heighten,
amplify,
augment,
dilate
in the sense of raise
Definition
to increase in amount, quality, or intensity
Two incidents in recent days have raised the level of concern.
Synonyms
increase,
reinforce,
intensify,
heighten,
advance,
boost,
strengthen,
enhance,
put up,
exaggerate,
hike (up) (informal),
enlarge,
escalate,
inflate,
aggravate,
magnify,
amplify,
augment,
jack up
in the sense of reinforce
Definition
to give added emphasis to (an idea or feeling)
This sense of privilege tends to be reinforced by the outside world.
Synonyms
consolidate,
support,
increase,
further,
encourage,
promote,
boost,
sustain,
foster,
heighten,
magnify,
amplify,
augment
in the sense of strengthen
Definition
to become stronger or make (something) stronger
Every day of sunshine strengthens the feeling of optimism.
Synonyms
heighten,
intensify,
reinforce
in the sense of widen
Definition
to make or become wide or wider
The river widens considerably as it begins to turn east.