intimate

[ in-tuh-mit ]

See synonyms for: intimate intimated intimates intimating 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

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

synonym study For intimate

1. See familiar.

Other words for intimate

1	dear
3	confidential, secret
8	exhaustive, in-depth, thorough; profound
13	crony

See synonyms for intimate on Thesaurus.com

Other words from intimate

in·ti·mate·ly, adverb
in·ti·mate·ness, noun

Other definitions for intimate (2 of 2)

intimate²

[ in-tuh-meyt ]

verb (used with object),in·ti·mat·ed, in·ti·mat·ing.

to indicate or make known indirectly; hint; imply; suggest.
Archaic. to make known; announce.

Origin of intimate

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 -ate¹

synonym study For intimate

1. See hint.

Other words from intimate

in·ti·mat·er, noun
in·ti·ma·tion [in-tuh-mey-shuhn], /ˌɪn təˈmeɪ ʃən/, noun
pre·in·ti·ma·tion, noun

Words that may be confused with intimate

intimate , intimidate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use intimate in a sentence

It even intimates that the Church may have gotten some things wrong, as it has so many other times in the past.
Pope Francis Pushes the Church Another Step Further on Gays | Gene Robinson | October 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
All in all, it looks like the best night out ever—but pride goeth before the fall, as the song's title intimates.
Viral Video of the Day: Psy & Snoop Dogg Have a ‘Hangover’ | Alex Chancey | June 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Japanese fashion label, Wish Room, has found a hot market offering silky intimates for their male clientele.
Japanese Brand Launches New Line of Men’s Lingerie | Justin Jones | January 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
German intimates company Blush Berlin mentioned Snowden and the NSA in a playful new promotion.
Edward Snowden the Focus of New Lingerie Ad | Erin Cunningham | July 1, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
[NYDN] Gisele Models Her Own Lingerie: Who better to model Gisele Bündchen's new intimates collection than her own self?
John Boehner Sings to Kate Upton; Gisele Models Her Own Lingerie | The Fashion Beast Team | June 13, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

By his friends and intimates he was called Tom, and mere acquaintances even usually spoke of him as Tom Robertson.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph Tatlow
To his intimates he had laid down the maxim: "Don't marry; keep a dog if you want a faithful companion."
The Doctor of Pimlico | William Le Queux
He then intimates that he is in a weak and wretched state of health, and speaks of the vault where he wishes to be interred.
The 'Characters' of Jean de La Bruyre | Jean de La Bruyre
On the other hand, young Tantuis and myself were intimates in the moment after our first introduction.
Travels through the South of France and the Interior of Provinces of Provence and Languedoc in the Years 1807 and 1808 | Lt-Col. Pinkney
Did we, or any other of your friends or intimates, ever know you to be guilty of a single honest or generous action?
Memoirs of Mr. Charles J. Yellowplush | William Makepeace Thackeray

British Dictionary definitions for intimate (1 of 2)

intimate¹

/ (ˈɪntɪmɪt) /

adjective

characterized by a close or warm personal relationship: an 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 atmosphere: an 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

Origin of intimate

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

Derived forms of intimate

intimately, adverb
intimateness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for intimate (2 of 2)

intimate²

/ (ˈɪntɪˌmeɪt) /

verb(tr; may take a clause as object)

to hint; suggest
to proclaim; make known

Origin of intimate

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

Derived forms of intimate

intimater, noun

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

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