intensify

[ in-ten-suh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, in·ten·si·fied, in·ten·si·fy·ing.

1. to make intense or more intense.

   Synonyms: concentrate, quicken, deepen

   Antonyms: weaken, alleviate

2. to make more acute; strengthen or sharpen.

   Synonyms: concentrate, quicken, deepen

3. 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.

intensify

/ ɪnˈtɛnsɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to make or become intense or more intense
2. tr to increase the density of (a photographic film or plate)

Derived Forms

• inˌtensifiˈcation, noun

Other Words From

• in·tensi·fi·cation noun
• de-in·tensi·fy verb deintensified deintensifying
• over·in·tensi·fi·cation noun
• over·in·tensi·fy verb overintensified overintensifying
• self-in·tensi·fied adjective
• self-in·tensi·fying adjective
• unin·tensi·fied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intensify¹

First recorded in 1810–20; intense + -ify

Synonym Study

See aggravate.

Example Sentences

Drama has intensified among the Patrick Henry High School cheerleaders after news spread of their coaches’ firings this week.

From Voice of San Diego

The Fed on Wednesday also left its benchmark short-term rate unchanged at nearly zero, where it has been since the pandemic intensified in March.

From Fortune

The public and lawmakers themselves have expressed disappointment in the fact that the legislative session ended without major action on housing and police reform, and the finger-pointing is intensifying one week after the session ended.

From Voice of San Diego

The pandemic shut down Fortune’s in-person conference business, but it seems to have intensified demand for it.

From Fortune

These narratives have been intensified and supplemented by the work of right-wing adversarial media-makers like Elijah Schaffer and Andy Ngo, who collect videos of conflict at public protests and recirculate them to their online audiences.

From MIT Technology Review

Even as the ranks of culture warriors on the right diminish, their zeal seems to intensify.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, they intensify with age, like peachberry wine, and occasionally (like Jesse Helms and Jimmy Swaggart) they grow rank.

From The Daily Beast

As fears of the virus hitting Europe intensify, health officials warn that paranoia and racial profiling may grow, as well.

From The Daily Beast

Amin, whom we met in the park, says that his highs tend to extend and intensify whatever he was feeling already.

From The Daily Beast

Droughts and food shocks may intensify political and military conflict: more resource wars, more grain-price revolutions.

From The Daily Beast

The chattering of a few prairie dogs only served to intensify the great, mysterious silence.

From Project Gutenberg

Somehow she imagined a contact of lips would intensify that feeling, might bring it nearer consummation.

From Project Gutenberg

Don't intensify the viciousness of the public-house by assuming the place isn't fit for women and children.

From Project Gutenberg

But the very expression of the unrest tends to intensify its expression and so increases the tension in the herd.

From Project Gutenberg

At times her whimsical fancy would intensify natural processes around her till they seemed a part of her own story.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• add to
• aggravate
• boost
• build up
• deepen
• enhance
• escalate
• exacerbate
• heat up
• heighten
• increase
• quicken
• raise
• redouble
• reinforce
• set off
• sharpen
• step up
• strengthen