intimate
Verbintimates, intimating, intimated
Formsintimates, intimating, intimated
Pluralintimates
- 1About private things you do not share with most people.
Like a diary you keep hidden from everyone.
She shared the intimate details of her life with only a few people.
He kept his most intimate thoughts to himself.
Similarpersonal, private, confidential, innermost, secret
Oppositepublic, impersonal
- 2
- 3Knowing someone very well and feeling close to them.
Like a friend who knows all your secrets.
They were intimate friends who told each other everything.
Only her most intimate friends knew she was moving away.
UsageSafest before a noun: an intimate friend.
Similarclose, familiar, dear, devoted, inseparable
- 4About facts so detailed that only someone very close would know them.
Like knowing a friend's house so well you can find things in the dark.
She had an intimate knowledge of the city's back streets.
His intimate understanding of the machine let him fix it at once.
UsageOften in intimate knowledge of something.
Similardetailed, deep, thorough, close, profound
Oppositesuperficial, cursory, shallow, sketchy
Note
- 5To hint at something quietly instead of saying it openly.
Like dropping a hint instead of saying it straight out.
With a glance, she intimated that it was time to leave.
She tried to intimate that she might leave the company soon.
UsageOften followed by that: she intimated that she might leave.
Similarhint, suggest, imply, indicate, insinuate
Note
- 6To tell someone about something officially.
Like an official message telling you the news.
The school will intimate parents about the change in schedule.
They intimated the staff of the closure a week in advance.
UsageUse it like inform: intimate someone of something.
- 7Mixed together so completely that the separate parts cannot be told apart.
Like sugar stirred into water until you cannot see it anymore.
The recipe calls for an intimate blend of ground spices.
Grind the two powders into an intimate mixture before you heat them.
Similarhomogeneous, uniform, thorough
Oppositeheterogeneous
Note
- 8Used about a small, cozy place or event that feels private, warm, and friendly.
The cafe is small and intimate, with only six tables.
They had an intimate wedding with just their families.
Similarcozy, small, private, snug
Oppositeimpersonal
Note
Less common meaning
- 9A very close friend you trust completely.
Like a best friend who knows you better than anyone.
He told the secret only to his closest intimate.
Her intimates knew about the plan before anyone else did.
UsageOften plural: his intimates.
Similarconfidant, confidante, friend, companion
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
From Latin intimatus, linked to intimus meaning 'innermost', from intus meaning 'within'.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
- The word comes from Latin intimatus. en.wiktionary.org
- It is linked to Latin intimus, meaning 'innermost'. en.wiktionary.org
- Intimus derives from intus, meaning 'within'. en.wiktionary.org
This noun comes from the adjective 'intimate'.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact
- The noun 'intimate' derives from the adjective 'intimate'. en.wiktionary.org
From Latin intimatus, related to the same root as the adjective.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- The verb intimate comes from Latin intimatus. en.wiktionary.org
- The verb shares its Latin origin with the adjective intimate. en.wiktionary.org