intensity

[in-ten-si-tee]

noun

plural

intensities 

1. the quality or condition of being intense.

2. great energy, strength, concentration, vehemence, etc., as of activity, thought, or feeling.

   He went at the job with great intensity.

3. a high or extreme degree, as of cold or heat.

4. the degree or extent to which something is intense.

5. a high degree of emotional excitement; depth of feeling.

   The poem lacked intensity and left me unmoved.

   Synonyms: vigor, energy, emotion, passion

6. the strength or sharpness of a color due especially to its degree of freedom from admixture with its complementary color.

7. Physics.,  magnitude, as of energy or a force per unit of area, volume, time, etc.

8. Speech.

   1. the correlate of physical energy and the degree of loudness of a speech sound.

   2. the relative carrying power of vocal utterance.

intensity

/ ɪnˈtɛnsɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being intense

2. extreme force, degree, or amount

3. physics

   1. a measure of field strength or of the energy transmitted by radiation See radiant intensity luminous intensity

   2. I. (of sound in a specified direction) the average rate of flow of sound energy, usually in watts, for one period through unit area at right angles to the specified direction

4. Also called: earthquake intensity. geology a measure of the size of an earthquake based on observation of the effects of the shock at the earth's surface. Specified on the Mercalli scale See Mercalli scale Richter scale

Other Word Forms

• overintensity noun
• superintensity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of intensity¹

First recorded in 1655–65; intense + -ity

Example Sentences

With Wirtz perhaps struggling to adapt to the intensity of off-the-ball demands in the Premier League, Slot has reverted to his established midfield trio, leaving his expensive Germany international on the bench.

Read more on BBC

This pattern held true regardless of the stressor's type or intensity.

Read more on Science Daily

The climactic confrontation reaches its peak intensity after a Black man dies in a police officer’s choke hold and Mookie heaves a garbage can through the pizzeria’s window.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Bell once again proves that he’s a master of light, transparency and reflection with colorful geometric constructions that shift in light and intensity as you walk around them.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

With its deft use of long takes during scenes of sustained intensity, “It Was Just an Accident” is meticulously composed while exuding an air of spontaneity.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anxiety 
• concentration 
• depth 
• earnestness 
• emotion 
• energy 
• excitement 
• ferocity 
• fervor 
• fury 
• magnitude 
• power 
• severity 
• strength 
• tension 
• vigor