Cool MateEnhance vs Intensify
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Enhance
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B2verb
Intensify
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most common: Intensify
| Enhance | Intensify | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈhɑːns/","/ɪnˈhɑːnsɪz/","/ɪnˈhɑːnst/","/ɪnˈhɑːnsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈhæns/","/ɪnˈhænsɪz/","/ɪnˈhænst/","/ɪnˈhænsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪ/","/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪz/","/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪd/","/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪ/","/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪz/","/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪd/","/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To improve something and make it better. | To make something stronger or more extreme. |
| Example | The new software will enhance the overall performance of the computer. | Violence intensified during the night. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | considerably, dramatically, greatly, can, could, may, digitally enhanced, surgically enhanced | greatly, dramatically, rapidly, seem to, tend to, be likely to |
| Antonyms | degrade, diminish, reduce | diminish, reduce, weaken |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'enhancement' in noun form., Using 'enhance' without an object (it needs something to enhance)., Incorrectly using as a synonym for 'increase' in unrelated contexts. | Using 'intensify' incorrectly with inanimate objects, like 'intensify the chair.', Confusing 'intensify' with 'intensification', which is a different form., Using 'intensify' in past tense incorrectly, such as 'intensified' without context. |
| Usage notes | Used in both professional and casual contexts. More common in writing than speaking. Avoid in informal situations where simpler words may suffice. | Use 'intensify' when describing emotions, situations, or actions that become stronger. It fits in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it in very casual conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Enhance vs Intensify
What's the difference between Enhance and Intensify?
Enhance: To improve something and make it better. Intensify: To make something stronger or more extreme.
Which is more common: Enhance and Intensify?
Intensify is the most common in everyday English.
Are Enhance and Intensify the same CEFR level?
Enhance: B2, Intensify: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Enhance and Intensify interchangeably?
Not always. Enhance and Intensify are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.