intimate

[ in-tuh-mit ]

/ ˈɪn tə mɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR intimate ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

associated in close personal relations: an intimate friend.

characterized by or involving warm friendship or a personally close or familiar association or feeling: an intimate greeting.

very private; closely personal: one's intimate affairs.

characterized by or suggesting an atmosphere conducive to privacy or intimacy; warmly cozy: an intimate little café where we can relax and talk.

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

engaged in or characterized by sexual relations: too young to handle an intimate relationship.

(of women's clothing) worn next to the skin, under street or outer garments: a store that sells intimate apparel.

detailed; deep: a more intimate analysis.

showing a close union or combination of particles or elements: an intimate mixture.

inmost; deep within.

of, relating to, or characteristic of the inmost or essential nature; intrinsic: the intimate structure of an organism.

of, relating to, or existing in the inmost depths of the mind: intimate beliefs.

noun

an intimate friend or associate, especially a confidant.

Nearby words

Origin of intimate

1600–10; < Latin intim(us) a close friend (noun use of the adj.; see intima) + -ate¹

SYNONYMS FOR intimate

1 dear. See familiar.

3 privy, secret.

8 exacting, thorough.

13 crony.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR intimate ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsin·ti·mate·ly, adverbin·ti·mate·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for intimately

Now Kendall Jenner is intimately interlocked with Cara Delevingne.
Kendall Tries to Outdo Kim by Straddling Cara Delevingne in Love Magazine|Lizzie Crocker|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However the American sexual ideal is intimately related to a certain idea of masculinity.
Living Black & Gay in the ’50s|Alain Mabanckou|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Javadi story was just intimately bound up with the Saul story.
‘Homeland’ Creator Talks Season 4’s ‘Reboot,’ Life After Brody, and How ISIS Will Affect the Show|Marlow Stern|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You navigate from scene to scene in an intimately small group.
New York’s Scariest Night Out: The Ghosts, Rats, and Lunatics of ‘Nightmare New York’|Justin Jones|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But I do know that I have always been interested in knowing all of myself, intimately.
OITNB’s New Villain Vee, Played By Lorraine Toussaint, Speaks for the First Time|Kevin Fallon|June 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is then left to rest for two hours, when a few drops of rectified 91alcohol are added, and intimately mixed.
French Polishing and Enamelling|Richard Bitmead
He knew Miss Travers intimately; her appreciation of humour was vast, for a woman; he felt sure she would be tickled.
A Bride from the Bush|E. W. (Ernest William) Hornung
I and George Roden, my lady, have known each other intimately for these ever so many years.
Marion Fay|Anthony Trollope
Neither of the women most intimately concerned is blind to the impending possibilities; it is only man who cannot see.
The Spinster Book|Myrtle Reed
This is intimately connected with glanders, and the diseases frequently run into each other.
Domestic Animals|Richard L. Allen

British Dictionary definitions for intimately (1 of 2)

intimate

/ (ˈɪntɪmɪt) /

adjective

characterized by a close or warm personal relationshipan intimate friend

deeply personal, private, or secret

(often postpositive foll by with) euphemistic having sexual relations (with)

(postpositive foll by with) having a deep or unusual knowledge (of)
(of knowledge) deep; extensive

having a friendly, warm, or informal atmospherean intimate nightclub

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

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

noun

a close friend

Derived Formsintimately, adverbintimateness, noun

Word Origin for intimate

C17: from Latin intimus very close friend, from (adj): innermost, deepest, from intus within

British Dictionary definitions for intimately (2 of 2)

intimate

/ (ˈɪntɪˌmeɪt) /

verb (tr; may take a clause as object)

to hint; suggest

to proclaim; make known

Derived Formsintimater, noun

Word Origin for intimate

C16: from Late Latin intimāre to proclaim, from Latin intimus innermost

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

intimate

adjective

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of intimate

Examples from the Web for intimately

British Dictionary definitions for intimately (1 of 2)

intimate

adjective

noun

Word Origin for intimate

British Dictionary definitions for intimately (2 of 2)

intimate

verb (tr; may take a clause as object)

Word Origin for intimate