intensity

noun in·ten·si·ty \ in-ˈten(t)-sə-tē \

Updated on: 28 Nov 2017

Definition of intensity

plural intensities

1 : the quality or state of being intense; especially : extreme degree of strength, force, energy, or feeling

2 : the magnitude of a quantity (such as force or energy) per unit (as of area, charge, mass, or time)

3 : saturation 4a

See intensity defined for English-language learners

See intensity defined for kids

Examples of intensity in a Sentence

the intensity of the sun's rays
the intensity of the argument
The sun shone with great intensity.

Recent Examples of intensity from the Web

The Wizards tried feisty Kelly Oubre Jr., whose length and intensity usually bothers opponents.

— chris fedor, cleveland.com, "LeBron James sends loud message to another Eastern Conference contender: Chris Fedor," 3 Nov. 2017
From the parties with Andy Warhol at Studio 54 to covering the reactions of John Lennon’s murder, Boretz has always been immersed in the intensity of New York City.

— ben trivett, PEOPLE.com, "Photographer Recalls Shooting Woody Allen, Michael Jackson at Studio 54 in New Book Street," 19 Oct. 2017
Widerberg’s period gem thrives on tenderness and intensity of feeling, on the foolhardy courage of its lovers, and on its unwavering confrontation with death.

— peter cowie, WSJ, "Intimate Bliss That Flirts With Taboos," 13 Oct. 2017
Because after any regrettable scandal that came before, this goes down as the fatal one, so much of what happened Wednesday arrived with a strong sense of inevitability and intensity.

— gentry estes, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville basketball, welcome to a new, different, difficult reality | Estes," 28 Sep. 2017
The cause of the increased intensity can be traced to a long-standing tradition, geographic proximity of campuses or inner-district bragging rights.

— pat disabato, Daily Southtown, "Disabato: Lincoln-Way football showdown between Central and East a can't miss," 19 Sep. 2017
The competition, the close games in the fourth quarter, the stunning athleticism, the teamwork, the passion and intensity - those things make the game so riveting.

— jerry brewer, chicagotribune.com, "I have loved football for years, but this NFL season is making me queasy," 8 Sep. 2017
Although there were fewer members of the audience than in the past two public sessions, the level of intensity from either side at this week's meeting remained the same.

— linda girardi, Aurora Beacon-News, "Batavia panel looks at aspects of Campana building plan," 31 Aug. 2017
The good news is that July will give you a bit of a break, in terms of pace, but not in terms of intensity.

— astro poets, Bon Appetit, "Run Outside, Because Your July Horoscopes Are Here with Ice Cream Truck Treats," 29 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'intensity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of intensity

1665

intensity Synonyms

Other Color Terms

argentine, cerise, cerulean, cyan, ocher, perse, puce, taupe, vermilion

INTENSITY Defined for English Language Learners

intensity

noun

Definition of intensity for English Language Learners

: the quality or state of being intense : extreme strength or force
: the degree or amount of strength or force that something has

INTENSITY Defined for Kids

intensity

noun in·ten·si·ty \ in-ˈten-sə-tē \

Definition of intensity for Students

plural intensities

1 : strength or force

the sun's intensity

2 : the degree or amount of a quality or condition

This storm is of a lower intensity.

Medical Dictionary

intensity

noun in·ten·si·ty \ in-ˈten(t)-sət-ē \

medical Definition of intensity

plural intensities

1 : the quality or state of being intense; especially : extreme degree of strength, force, energy, or feeling

2 : the magnitude of a quantity (as force or energy) per unit (as of surface, charge, mass, or time)

3 : saturation 4a

Learn More about intensity

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for intensity Spanish Central: Translation of intensity Nglish: Translation of intensity for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of intensity for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about intensity

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INTENSITY Defined for English Language Learners

intensity

Definition of intensity for English Language Learners

INTENSITY Defined for Kids

intensity

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intensity

medical Definition of intensity

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