intensely
Americanadverb
-
to a high or extreme degree.
Many ingredients are rolled into this intensely flavorful and very versatile curry paste.
-
(said in reference to emotions or feelings) acutely, strongly, or vehemently.
We should all be intensely angry about what is happening, and should do something besides just sitting at our computers absorbing information.
I disliked the book intensely.
-
earnestly or strenuously; in a highly engaged or involved way.
The first time I watched the documentary, all I saw was these four people talking intensely about their music.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of intensely
Explanation
Anything that happens in an extreme or profound way is done intensely, like your practice of staring intensely at your cat in an attempt to read his mind. A roaring fire burns intensely, and you'd be the first to admit that you love your dog intensely. This fierce and strong adverb works well for things that are literally or figuratively powerful, so you can study intensely for your geometry quiz or witness an intensely destructive earthquake. The Latin root, intensus, means "stretched, strained, or tight."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The immense buildout of AI infrastructure has created a bottleneck in this technology so the demand for ASML’s cutting-edge extreme ultra-violet machines is intensely competitive.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026
But whoever does sign on will be intensely scrutinized while the Nielsen numbers are closely watched.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
She is intensely private: almost no information, including her maiden name, is available online.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026
These worker groups tend to experience changes in the business cycle more intensely than other workers.
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
I mean, I don’t know if Tats is silent because she’s pondering it, but she does stop the monologue to stare intensely at me.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
