Cool MateHe was close very close vs Intimate
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
He was close very close
Top 2,000 (common)
Intimate
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
| He was close very close | Intimate | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //hi wəz kləʊs ˈvɛri kləʊs//🇺🇸 //hi wəz kloʊs ˈvɛri kloʊs// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪntɪmət/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪntɪmət/"]/ |
| Meaning | He was near in distance or feeling. | Close and personal. |
| Example | He was close, very close, to achieving his goal. | intimate friends |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | close friends, close proximity, close relationship | intimate relationship, intimate setting, intimate conversation, intimate friends, intimate details |
| Antonyms | - | distant, remote, aloof |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'he is close to someone' meaning a relationship., Using in overly formal contexts where less emotional language is preferred. | Confused with 'intimidate', as they sound similar., Used incorrectly to describe casual relationships., 'Intimate' as an adverb—it's only an adjective. |
| Usage notes | Use in conversations to express proximity or intimacy. It's more casual; avoid in formal writing. | Use 'intimate' to describe close relationships or settings. It can be in romantic contexts but also in friendships. Avoid in overly casual settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: He was close very close vs Intimate
What's the difference between He was close very close and Intimate?
He was close very close: He was near in distance or feeling. Intimate: Close and personal.
Can you show an example of each?
He was close very close: He was close, very close, to achieving his goal. Intimate: intimate friends
Can I use He was close very close and Intimate interchangeably?
Not always. He was close very close and Intimate 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.