existing or occurring in a high or extreme degree: intense heat.
acute, strong, or vehement, as sensations, feelings, or emotions: intense anger.
of an extreme kind; very great, as in strength, keenness, severity, or the like: an intense gale.
having a characteristic quality in a high degree: The intense sunlight was blinding.
strenuous or earnest, as activity, exertion, diligence, or thought: an intense life.
exhibiting a high degree of some quality or action.
having or showing great strength, strong feeling, or tension, as a person, the face, or language.
susceptible to strong emotion; emotional: an intense person.
(of color) very deep: intense red.
Photography. dense (def. 4).
Origin of intense
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin intēnsus, variant of intentus, past participle of the verb intendere “to stretch toward”; see in-2, tense1, intent2, intend
These intense blazes can level vast stretches of the forest rather than simply clearing out the undergrowth and leaving the big trees standing, says Scott Stephens, a professor of fire science at UC Berkeley.
Suppressing fires has failed. Here’s what California needs to do instead.|James Temple|September 17, 2020|MIT Technology Review
It faced intense pressure to ensure that — just as Airbus promised — pilots transferring from earlier 737 models didn’t need expensive additional simulator training.
Boeing crashes were the “horrific culmination” of multiple mistakes, House report says|kdunn6|September 16, 2020|Fortune
Apple Watch SEThere’s now a cheaper version of the Watch for people who don’t need the most intense sensors.
Apple just announced a new iPad, iPad Air, and Apple Watch Series 6|Stan Horazek|September 15, 2020|Popular Science
In the face of intense pressure to produce the rushed Salk vaccine, Merck was the only involved company to withdraw from the flawed national rollout.
On COVID-19 vaccines, Big Pharma knows to just say ‘no’|matthewheimer|September 11, 2020|Fortune
Such homes offer support beyond traditional foster homes for families caring for children with intense mental health needs.
Hundreds of Children Are Stuck in Psychiatric Hospitals Each Year Despite the State’s Promises to Find Them Homes|by Duaa Eldeib|September 11, 2020|ProPublica
During the intense firefight that followed, four Kurdish fighters died, including three of Ahmed's cousins.
The Brothers Who Ambushed ISIS|Mohammed A. Salih|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The relationship between you and your fans, you say, is intense, particularly over social media.
Portrait of the Austin Mahone as a Teen Idol|William O’Connor|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Republicans he believes are driven at least in part by their intense dislike of Obama.
Repubs Should Take It From Kucinich: Impeachment Isn’t Worth It|Eleanor Clift|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, tradition overwhelmed the legal victory, and she sadly succumbed to the intense pressure to marry her attacker.
We’re Not Done in Afghanistan|Kimberley Motley|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They may not receive public acclaim, but their pride in their work is as intense as their labors.
Damien Hirst’s Army of Geppettos|Tim Teeman|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With intense relief we saw Jack hauled on board over the stern; but papa was still in the water.
A Yacht Voyage Round England|W.H.G. Kingston
The words were so intense, so spontaneous and unexpected, that Loder took a step back.
The Masquerader|Katherine Cecil Thurston
She was helping Chloe set the table, to that lady's intense delight at "Missy's" girlish housewifery.
A Protegee of Jack Hamlin's and Other Stories|Bret Harte
As the Maumee was neared the feeling of the army was intense.
Historic Highways of America (Vol. 8)|Archer Butler Hulbert
There was a pause, a thrilling, intense pause; and then the confusion of voices.
The Tidal Wave and Other Stories|Ethel May Dell
British Dictionary definitions for intense
intense
/ (ɪnˈtɛns) /
adjective
of extreme force, strength, degree, or amountintense heat
characterized by deep or forceful feelingsan intense person
Derived forms of intense
intensely, adverbintenseness, noun
Word Origin for intense
C14: from Latin intensus stretched, from intendere to stretch out; see intend
usage for intense
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)