intimate

[in-tuh-mit]

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.

Origin of intimate

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

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

Synonyms for intimate

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR intimate ON THESAURUS.COM

1. dear. See familiar. 3. privy, secret. 8. exacting, thorough. 13. crony.

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

Related Words for intimately

personally, informally, well, confidentially, lovingly, privately, secretly, familiarly

Examples from the Web for intimately

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples of intimately

I have been intimately associated with many brewers throughout the country.
Government by the Brewers?
Adolph Keitel
It was gay, it was quiet and restful, it was intimately personal.
The Harbor
Ernest Poole
I thought I recognised the voice: I know him intimately well.
Homeward Bound
James Fenimore Cooper
How we hide ourselves from those we love best and live with most intimately!
A Spirit in Prison
Robert Hichens
Ruffo's mother knew Gaspare, must have known him intimately in the past.
A Spirit in Prison
Robert Hichens

British Dictionary definitions for intimately

intimate

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

intimate

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

Word Origin and History for intimately

intimate

adj.

1630s, "closely acquainted, very familiar," from Late Latin intimatus, past participle of intimare "make known, announce, impress," from Latin intimus "inmost" (adj.), "close friend" (n.), superlative of in "in" (see in- (2)). Used euphemistically in reference to women's underwear from 1904. Related: Intimately.

intimate

"suggest indirectly," 1530s, back-formation from intimation, or else from Late Latin intimatus, past participle of intimare. Related: Intimated; intimating.

intimate

1650s, "person with whom one is intimate," from intimate (adj.).