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, 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”; 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” ( intima ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

At times, it almost feels too intimate, as if there’s a familiarity between filmmaker and subject that’s so innately present throughout filming that Coppola forgets not every viewer will come equipped with the same knowledge.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Then, in the middle eight, he offers an intimate reflection on the beginnings of the Beatles, at his childhood home in Liverpool.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

At Harvard Law School, “Pop,” as his grandson called him, became an intimate of Felix Frankfurter, the future U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

“Spanning over 11,000 square feet across four expansive levels, the residence is both grand in scale and intimate in feel,” the listing goes on.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

I’d been afraid of doing something as intimate as making art with him watching, but Sahil was one of the few people who not only saw Twinkle the artist, but respected Twinkle the artist.

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon

Related Words

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