intimate

¹ American  

[in-tuh-mit] / ˈɪn tə mɪt /

adjective

1. associated in close personal relations.

   an intimate friend.

   Synonyms:

   dear

2. characterized by or involving warm friendship or a personally close or familiar association or feeling.

   an intimate greeting.

3. very private; closely personal.

   one's intimate affairs.

   Synonyms:

   secret, confidential

4. characterized by or suggesting an atmosphere conducive to privacy or intimacy; warmly cozy.

   an intimate little café where we can relax and talk.

5. (of an association, knowledge, understanding, etc.) arising from close personal connection or familiar experience.

6. engaged in or characterized by sexual relations.

   too young to handle an intimate relationship.

7. (of women's clothing) worn next to the skin, under street or outer garments.

   a store that sells intimate apparel.

8. detailed; deep.

   a more intimate analysis.

   Synonyms:

   profound, thorough, in-depth, exhaustive

9. showing a close union or combination of particles or elements.

   an intimate mixture.

10. inmost; deep within.

11. of, relating to, or characteristic of the inmost or essential nature; intrinsic.

    the intimate structure of an organism.

12. of, relating to, or existing in the inmost depths of the mind.

    intimate beliefs.

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noun

1. an intimate friend or associate, especially a confidant.

   Synonyms:

   crony

intimate ² American  

[in-tuh-meyt] / ˈɪn təˌmeɪt /

verb (used with object)

intimated, intimating

1. to indicate or make known indirectly; hint; imply; suggest.

2. Archaic. to make known; announce.

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intimate ¹ British  

/ ˈɪntɪmɪt /

adjective

1. characterized by a close or warm personal relationship

   an intimate friend

2. deeply personal, private, or secret

3. euphemistic having sexual relations (with)

4. 1. having a deep or unusual knowledge (of)

   2. (of knowledge) deep; extensive

5. having a friendly, warm, or informal atmosphere

   an intimate nightclub

6. of or relating to the essential part or nature of something; intrinsic

7. denoting the informal second person of verbs and pronouns in French and other languages

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noun

1. a close friend

intimate ² British  

/ ˈɪntɪˌmeɪt /

verb

1. to hint; suggest

2. to proclaim; make known

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Related Words

See familiar.

See hint.

Other Word Forms

• intimately
  adverb
• intimateness
  noun
• intimater
  noun
• intimation
  noun
• preintimation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of intimate¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin intimātus, past participle of intimāre “to announce, make known,” derivative of intimus “inmost, most intimate”; see intima

Origin of intimate²

First recorded in 1530–40; from Late Latin intimātus, past participle of intimāre “to impress (upon), make known,” equivalent to intim(us) “inmost” ( see intima) + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

Intimate means being close. A small restaurant is called intimate because you're sitting close to the other people, and your best friends are considered your intimate friends. This adjective can mean very friendly, or very personal or private. The original spelling was intime, from French, from Latin intimus "innermost," from intus "within." The related verb intimate means to hint or suggest. Intimate is also a noun meaning a close friend or associate. You might intimate to your intimates that you want to leave a boring party.

Example Sentences

It traces Chizuko's travels and gastronomic adventures across the colonial outpost, and the intimate relationship she develops with her Taiwanese interpreter Chizuru.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

What the numerous emails and texts between the two men suggest is an intimate and affectionate relationship that went beyond a business or financial connection.

From Salon • May 19, 2026

Noakes, from Cardiff, said she and her new husband Lester are usually "quiet people" and only invited about 35 people to their wedding day in a small and intimate affair.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

Inside an intimate pub, however, filling out the scene with empty tables could distract from the hurried, nervous nature of the filmmaker’s original intent.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

Vermeer places us at an intimate distance within the relatively shallow space, which has been molded around the figure.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

Related Words

• confidential
• detailed
• firsthand
• in-depth
• penetrating
• profound
• visceral