adjective

intimate

IHN-tih-muht

adjective

Very close and familiar, especially emotionally.

"They had an intimate friendship built over decades."

Private or personal, often relating to sex or the body.

"The memoir reveals intimate details of her childhood."

noun

A very close friend.

"Only a handful of intimates attended the small ceremony."

verb

To suggest or hint at something without stating it directly.

"He intimated that changes were coming to the company."

How to Use Intimate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishVery close or personal (adjective), or to hint at something (verb) — note the stress shifts between the two: INT-i-mit vs IN-ti-mate.

Common mistake

The verb "intimate" (to hint) is pronounced differently from the adjective "intimate" (close/personal) — don't mix them up in speech.

Common pairings

intimate relationship intimate details intimate friend

more intimate comparative, intimated past tense, intimates plural, intimates singular, most intimate superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

They had an _____ friendship built over decades.

From Latin intimatus, from intimus, "innermost," the superlative of intus, "within."

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