intensify

[ in-ten-suh-fahy ]
See synonyms for intensify on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),in·ten·si·fied, in·ten·si·fy·ing.
  1. to make intense or more intense.

  2. to make more acute; strengthen or sharpen.

  1. Photography. to increase the density and contrast of (a negative) chemically.

verb (used without object),in·ten·si·fied, in·ten·si·fy·ing.
  1. to become intense or more intense.

Origin of intensify

1
First recorded in 1810–20; intense + -ify

synonym study For intensify

1, 2. See aggravate.

Other words for intensify

Opposites for intensify

Other words from intensify

  • in·ten·si·fi·ca·tion, noun
  • de-in·ten·si·fy, verb, de·-in·ten·si·fied, de·-in·ten·si·fy·ing.
  • o·ver·in·ten·si·fi·ca·tion, noun
  • o·ver·in·ten·si·fy, verb, o·ver·in·ten·si·fied, o·ver·in·ten·si·fy·ing.
  • self-in·ten·si·fied, adjective
  • self-in·ten·si·fy·ing, adjective
  • un·in·ten·si·fied, adjective

Words that may be confused with intensify

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use intensify in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for intensify

intensify

/ (ɪnˈtɛnsɪˌfaɪ) /


verb-fies, -fying or -fied
  1. to make or become intense or more intense

  2. (tr) to increase the density of (a photographic film or plate)

Derived forms of intensify

  • intensification, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012