Cool MateAs things heat up vs Intensify
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
As things heat up
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Intensify
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most formal: Intensify
| As things heat up | Intensify | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //əz θɪŋz hiːt ʌp//🇺🇸 //əz θɪŋz hiːt ʌp// | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪ/","/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪz/","/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪd/","/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪ/","/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪz/","/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪd/","/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | When situations become more intense or serious. | To make something stronger or more extreme. |
| Example | As things heat up, the competition became fiercer. | Violence intensified during the night. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | as things heat up, when things heat up, things heat up quickly, prepare for heat up, welcome the heat up | greatly, dramatically, rapidly, seem to, tend to, be likely to |
| Antonyms | - | diminish, reduce, weaken |
| Common mistakes | Incorrectly translated as 'things get hot' literally., Used too seriously in lighthearted contexts., Confusing it with 'heat up' as in cooking. | 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 | Use in casual conversations, often when discussing relationships or competitions. Avoid in formal writing. | 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: As things heat up vs Intensify
What's the difference between As things heat up and Intensify?
As things heat up: When situations become more intense or serious. Intensify: To make something stronger or more extreme.
Which is more formal: As things heat up and Intensify?
Intensify is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
As things heat up: As things heat up, the competition became fiercer. Intensify: Violence intensified during the night.
Can I use As things heat up and Intensify interchangeably?
Not always. As things heat up 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.