adj

intensive

ihn-TEHN-sihv

adj

Involving a lot of effort or activity concentrated in a short period; thorough.

"She took an intensive Spanish course over the summer."

"He's in intensive care following the surgery."

How to Use Intensive

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishConcentrated and thorough — a lot packed into a short space of time or effort.

Common pairings

intensive care intensive training labor-intensive

more intensive comparative, intensives plural, most intensive superlative

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She took an _____ Spanish course over the summer.

From Old French intensif, based on Latin intensus, "stretched, intense."

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