Intensiverequiring a great deal of effort, concentration, or energy usually describes something that involves a lot of effort, activity, focus, or strength. It can also be used in grammar for a word that adds emphasisextra importance or force given to a word or idea, though that is a more technicalrelating to a specialized subject or expert terminology sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ɪnˈtɛn.sɪv/
Easy pronunciation: in-TEN-siv (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress is on the second syllable: TEN.
Adjective meaning very strong, focused, or demanding.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Intensive Meaning
very strong, focused, or demanding
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: Characterized by a high degree or intensity; involving a lot of effort, activity, or concentration.
Example: The class uses an intensive study schedule before exams.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- laborious — Works when something requires a lot of effort, but it suggests difficulty more than focus.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Intensive
Meaning 2
used to add emphasis
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A word form or modifier that mainly adds force or emphasis.
Example: In grammar, an intensifier is a word that strengthens what it modifies.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- intensifier — This is the direct noun equivalent for this grammatical sense.
Meaning 3
using a lot of resources to produce more
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: Used in farming to mean producing more from a limited area by using more labor and capital.
Example: The farm uses intensive methods to get higher yields from the same land.
Meaning 4
emphatic
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: Used to show force or emphasis, especially in grammar.
Example: An intensive adjective adds extra emphasis to the noun it describes.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Intensive Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- demanding
grammar: a modifier that adds emphasis
- intensifier
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse intensive with extensive: intensive means concentrated or involving a lot of effort, while extensive means broad or wide-ranging.
- Do not use intensive as a general synonym for 'important' or 'serious' unless the context is about effort, focus, or strength.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does intensive mean in simple English?
It means very focused, strong, or requiring a lot of effort.
What is an intensive course?
It is a course that covers a lot of material in a short time and usually requires concentrated effort.
Is intensive the same as extensive?
No. Intensive means concentrated or high-effort, while extensive means wide or broad.
What is the synonym of intensive?
A strong everyday synonym is demanding. In some contexts, laborious may also work.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.