intensity

[ in-ten-si-tee ]

noun

, plural in·ten·si·ties.

1. the quality or condition of being intense.
2. great energy, strength, concentration, vehemence, etc., as of activity, thought, or feeling:

   He went at the job with great intensity.

3. a high or extreme degree, as of cold or heat.
4. the degree or extent to which something is intense.
5. a high degree of emotional excitement; depth of feeling:

   The poem lacked intensity and left me unmoved.

   Synonyms: vigor, energy, emotion, passion

6. the strength or sharpness of a color due especially to its degree of freedom from admixture with its complementary color.
7. Physics. magnitude, as of energy or a force per unit of area, volume, time, etc.
8. Speech.
   1. the correlate of physical energy and the degree of loudness of a speech sound.
   2. the relative carrying power of vocal utterance.

intensity

/ ɪnˈtɛnsɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being intense
2. extreme force, degree, or amount
3. physics
   1. a measure of field strength or of the energy transmitted by radiation See radiant intensity luminous intensity
   2. (of sound in a specified direction) the average rate of flow of sound energy, usually in watts, for one period through unit area at right angles to the specified direction I
4. Also calledearthquake intensity geology a measure of the size of an earthquake based on observation of the effects of the shock at the earth's surface. Specified on the Mercalli scale See Mercalli scale Richter scale

Other Words From

• over·in·tensi·ty noun
• super·in·tensi·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of intensity¹

First recorded in 1655–65; intense + -ity

Example Sentences

It continues to carry out daily attacks on Israel, although not with the same intensity, and confront invading Israeli soldiers in Lebanon’s south.

From BBC

"The wind field of a tropical cyclone contains the information of the storm's intensity, structure, and potential impact on coastal regions," said Li.

From Science Daily

Britain's Andy Murray said: "The passion and intensity you played with was something I think all tennis players aspire to, and what all tennis fans will remember you for. It has been incredible watching you."

From BBC

"Numerous flash floods, hazardous travel, power outages, and tree damage can be expected as the storm reaches max intensity," the National Weather Prediction Centre wrote in a post on X.

From BBC

The Israeli military has destroyed large parts of Hezbollah’s infrastructure and killed many of its leaders, but the group continues to carry out daily attacks, although not with the same intensity.

From BBC

Related Words

• anxiety
• concentration
• depth
• earnestness
• emotion
• energy
• excitement
• ferocity
• fervor
• fury
• magnitude
• power
• severity
• strength
• tension
• vigor