C1adjective 2K

Dense

UK //dɛns// US //dɛns// Pronunciation

Definition

Having parts that are close together; thick or compact.

Listen to definition

In simple words: Very thick or close together.

Examples

• The fog was so dense that I couldn't see more than a few feet ahead.
• He struggled to understand the dense text of the academic paper.
• The forest was dense with trees, creating a shaded area below.
• Her dense accent made it hard for others to understand her.
• The dense packing of material made the box heavier.

Usage notes

Used to describe substances or ideas that are tightly packed together. Can describe physical density or abstract concepts like complex ideas.

Listen to usage notes

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of a 'dense forest' where trees are very close together.

Collocations

• dense population
• dense fog
• dense forest
• dense liquid
• dense material

Synonyms

• thick
• heavy
• compact
• crowded
• concentrated

Antonyms

• sparse
• thin
• loose

Common mistakes

• Confused with 'dint' (force) due to similarity in sound.
• Used incorrectly in phrases, e.g., saying 'dense foggy' instead of 'dense fog'.