intensive care

American  

noun

1. the use of specialized equipment and personnel for continuous monitoring and care of the critically ill.

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intensive care British  

noun

1. extensive and continuous care and treatment provided for an acutely ill patient, usually in a specially designated section ( intensive care unit ) of a hospital

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Etymology

Origin of intensive care

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intensive care

Garfield, a pediatrician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, said his experiences with families in the neonatal intensive care unit helped motivate the research.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026

They were also more likely to be transferred from a regular hospital unit to intensive care, which researchers say could reflect earlier recognition of deterioration and escalation of treatment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

When he finally woke up, in an intensive care unit in Oklahoma City, about 90 miles northeast of Comanche, he learned that surgeons had removed 13 inches of his small intestine during emergency surgery.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

Lauren Bruce from Blairgowrie is one of those who fears any reduction in local intensive care provision will be unsafe because of existing capacity issues across Scotland.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

“He’s in the intensive care unit. He had a pretty serious stroke, but they are hopeful they caught it in time,” my dad answers.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh