B2adjective2K

Intense

UK /["/ɪnˈtens/"]/US /["/ɪnˈtens/"]/

Definition

very great; very strong

In simple words: Very strong or powerful.

Examples

  • The intense heat of the summer made it difficult to stay outside for long.
  • She felt an intense desire to travel the world and explore new cultures.
  • His intense focus during the game led to a remarkable performance.
  • They had an intense discussion about the future of the project.
  • The movie was filled with intense action scenes that kept the audience on the edge of their seats.

Usage notes

Use 'intense' to describe feelings, experiences, or colors. It's suitable for formal and informal contexts, but avoid it in very casual conversations.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of an intense workout that makes you sweat a lot.

Collocations

  • be
  • become
  • get
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • be
  • become
  • get
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • be
  • become
  • get
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very

Synonyms

  • extreme

Antonyms

  • mild
  • gentle
  • weak

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'tension' when discussing feelings.
  • Using 'intense' with a noun without proper context.
  • Misplacing intensity in adjectives, e.g., saying 'very intense intense'.