Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

intimately

American  
[in-tuh-mit-lee] / ˈɪn tə mɪt li /

adverb

  1. in a way that entails, assumes, or suggests a close, warm, trusting personal relationship.

    He was quick to rebuke others, but only those he knew intimately and loved dearly.

    Churchill spoke intimately and easily over the wireless to his own people during the war.

  2. in a way that arises from long or frequent direct personal experience.

    Cycling acquaints you intimately with every bump, slice, crease, divot, ledge, ripple, and pothole in a street.

  3. in a way that affords or encourages privacy, coziness, closeness of interaction, etc..

    The small tables are so that people can converse more intimately, even among a larger group.

    The beautifully renovated 150-seat theater offers an intimately scaled setting with state-of-the-art acoustics.

  4. in a way that involves a close union or connection.

    Many of the ailments seen in the inpatient service are intimately linked to the malnutrition plaguing the region.

  5. in a way that involves or suggests sex.

    Posts must not contain name-calling, profanity, or intimately explicit material.

    Chlamydia is an intimately transmitted infection.

  6. in a deep and detailed way.

    Her letters and journals reveal a woman intimately involved in the day-to-day happenings of the school.

  7. in the innermost depths of one’s mind or heart.

    It has given me an opportunity to share ideas, thoughts, and intimately held beliefs with others equally interested in deeper questions.

  8. next to the skin, as underclothing, wigs, etc..

    Please read our exchange policy carefully; these are quality garments that are worn intimately and hence cannot be exchanged or returned.


Etymology

Origin of intimately

intimate 1 ( def. ) + -ly


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.

See Examples For:

The production’s novelty: Audience members wear headphones, so we hear Lucas’s voice more intimately, and also the creaks and thumps and eerie noises that enhance the chilling tale.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

As the film progresses, Herzog intimately considers humanity’s relationship to the insurmountable.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026

Melania Trump has said she has been involved intimately with the planning of the itinerary.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

Whether they play in the game or not, the Rams are intimately connected to this Super Bowl, as they are the host team.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026

The circuits are so intimately woven that the anthill meets all the essential criteria of an organism.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Just like flashcards, but way more fun

Don't take our word for it. Leave the boring studying behind and join VocabTrainer today. You'll learn even faster and never look back.

Take me to Vocabulary.com