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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Intensify: Definition, Usage & Key Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：strengthen or heighten (intensify)

intensify 🔊

/ɪnˈtɛnsɪfaɪ/

vt.

To make something stronger, more serious, or more noticeable.

Intensify meaning illustrated by a paintbrush darkening red color on a canvas.

strengthen or heighten 🔊

➕

/ˈstreŋθən ɔːr ˈhaɪtən/

vt.

To make a quality, effort, or process more powerful, concentrated, or prominent.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin `intensus` (stretched, intense) + `-ficare` (making) = to make intense.

💡 Mnemonic

INtense IF Yes. Imagine you need to INcrease the TENSion IF the situation demands YES, you must make it stronger.

📖 Example

As the final exam approaches, she decided to intensify her study sessions, adding two extra hours every night. 🔊 As the final exam approaches, she decided to strengthen her study sessions, adding two extra hours every night.

🔗 Collocations

intensify efforts – to increase and strengthen one's actions towards a goal

intensify scrutiny – to subject something to stricter or more detailed examination

intensify the flavor – to make the taste of food stronger or more pronounced

🔄 Synonyms

strengthen (v.) – To make or become stronger.

heighten (v.) – To make or become more intense or extreme.

amplify (v.) – To increase the strength or amount of something, especially sound.

🚫 Antonyms

weaken (v.) – To make or become less strong or powerful.

reduce (v.) – To make something smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.

diminish (v.) – To make or become less.

🌱 Derivatives

intense (adj.) – Of extreme force, degree, or strength.

intensity (n.) – The quality of being intense.

intensification (n.) – The action of making something more intense.

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Latin 'intensus' meaning 'stretched tight', it entered English via French. In modern usage, 'intensify' is a key term in meteorology, commonly used in weather reports to describe a storm or weather system becoming stronger.

Meaning 2：aggravate or exacerbate (intensify)

intensify 🔊

/ɪnˈtɛnsɪfaɪ/

vt.

To make a bad situation, problem, or feeling become worse or more severe.

Intensify definition shown by split-screen contrast of light vs heavy rain.

aggravate or exacerbate 🔊

➕

/ˈæɡrəveɪt ɔːr ɪɡˈzæsərbeɪt/

vt.

To make a negative situation, problem, or feeling more severe or extreme.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Lack of sleep can intensify feelings of anxiety and stress, making it harder to relax. 🔊 Lack of sleep can aggravate feelings of anxiety and stress, making it harder to relax.

🔗 Collocations

intensify pain – to cause physical discomfort to become more severe

intensify conflict – to make a disagreement or fight more serious or violent

intensify suffering – to make physical or emotional distress greater

🔄 Synonyms

aggravate (v.) – To make a problem, injury, or offense worse or more serious.

exacerbate (v.) – To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.

worsen (v.) – To make or become worse.

🚫 Antonyms

alleviate (v.) – To make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe.

mitigate (v.) – To make something less severe, serious, or painful.

relieve (v.) – To cause a pain, problem, or unpleasant feeling to become less severe or serious.