intensify
verb
in·ten·si·fy
in-ˈten(t)-sə-ˌfī 
intensified; intensifying
: to become intense or more intensive : grow stronger or more acute
1
: to make intense or more intensive : strengthen
2
a
: to make more acute : sharpen
b
: to increase the density and contrast of (a photographic image) by chemical treatment
Examples of intensify in a Sentence
We could hear the wind howling outside as the storm intensified.
They intensified their efforts to increase sales.
an intensified search for survivors
Recent Examples on the Web
The September departure of OpenAI’s chief technology officer, Mira Murati, who then founded a rival AI startup, has intensified the AI talent war.
—
Anna Tong, USA Today, 22 May 2025
Working with players on a daily basis allows medical teams to develop strong relationships with them, but this can intensify the pressure to make the right decisions.
—Geoff Scott, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Record-breaking May temperatures in Texas—topping 100 degrees—are intensifying wildfire conditions, while more than 40,000 acres burn across Minnesota and parts of Canada.
—Jennifer Castenson, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
And political repression has intensified since Maduro’s fraudulent July 2024 re-election, says a new report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) advocacy group.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for intensify
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Anna Tong, USA Today, 22 May 2025
Working with players on a daily basis allows medical teams to develop strong relationships with them, but this can intensify the pressure to make the right decisions.
—Geoff Scott, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Record-breaking May temperatures in Texas—topping 100 degrees—are intensifying wildfire conditions, while more than 40,000 acres burn across Minnesota and parts of Canada.
—Jennifer Castenson, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
And political repression has intensified since Maduro’s fraudulent July 2024 re-election, says a new report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) advocacy group.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for intensify
Cite this Entry
“Intensify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intensify. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
intensify
verb
in·ten·si·fy
in-ˈten(t)-sə-ˌfī
intensified; intensifying
: to make or become intense or more intensive
intensifier
noun
-ˈten(t)-sə-ˌfī(-ə)r
Medical Definition
intensify
verb
in·ten·si·fy
in-ˈten(t)-sə-ˌfī
intensified; intensifying
2
a
: to increase the density and contrast of (a photographic image) by special treatment
b
: to make more acute
use of illicit drugs intensified the patient's condition
: to become intense or more intensive : grow stronger or more acute
the sore throat, headache, and fever intensified as the disease progressed
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