intensely
intensely — adverb
1. to a very great degree, especially when describing the strength, amount, or effe
to a very great degree, especially when describing the strength, amount, or effect of something
The coffee at the café was intensely bitter, so Yuna added a spoonful of sugar.
intensely + adjective (bitter)
Kwame found the desert sunlight intensely bright after spending hours inside the dark cave.
intensely + adjective (bright)
Ananya's hands were intensely cold after she walked home through the snow without gloves.
The smell of garlic was so intensely strong in the kitchen that Mei-Lin opened all the windows.
Diego trained intensely for six months before running his first marathon in Mexico City.
文法句型
intensely + adjective
intensely + verb
用法筆記
Modifies adjectives that describe a quality that can be measured on a scale — hot, cold, bright, bitter, painful. Does not combine with absolute adjectives (perfect, impossible, unique).
常見錯誤
2. in a deeply serious or emotional way, giving all of your attention and feeling t
in a deeply serious or emotional way, giving all of your attention and feeling to what you are doing
Omar stared intensely at the chessboard, trying to work out his next move.
verb (stare) + intensely
The two lawyers argued intensely for over an hour about the terms of the contract.
Lucia listened intensely as her grandmother described what life was like fifty years ago.
Henrik worked intensely on his research paper all weekend and finished it by Sunday night.
Amara gazed intensely at the old photograph, trying to recognise the faces in it.
- passionately
stronger emotional charge; implies love, anger, or deep belief
- keenly
suggests sharpness of perception or feeling; slightly more formal
- with concentration
a phrase, not a single word; focuses on mental effort rather than emotion
- casually
without serious effort or feeling
- half-heartedly
without full commitment or energy
文法句型
verb + intensely
intensely + verb
用法筆記
Common with verbs of looking, listening, thinking, or working. The emotion involved is usually concentration or passion, not anger.
常見錯誤
intensely — adjective
1. existing or happening at a very high level on a scale of strength, degree, or am
existing or happening at a very high level on a scale of strength, degree, or amount
The intense heat of the summer afternoon made everyone stay inside with the fans on.
intense + noun (heat)
Noa felt intense pain in her ankle after twisting it on a steep stair.
intense + noun (pain)
There was an intense smell of smoke coming from the kitchen of the restaurant downstairs.
The team worked under intense pressure to finish the bridge before the rains came.
Fatima could not sleep because of the intense cold in her room all night long.
文法句型
intense + noun
be + intense
用法筆記
Describes physical qualities or forces (heat, cold, pain, pressure, light, smell) on a measurable scale. Not used with human emotions — that is sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. showing or feeling very strong emotions, serious determination, or deep concentr
showing or feeling very strong emotions, serious determination, or deep concentration
Linh is an intense young woman who gives every task her full attention and care.
intense describes a person's character
The look in Elena's eyes was so intense that Theo looked down at the floor.
After weeks of intense study, Amara passed her medical exams with the top score.
The negotiations were long and intense, with each side holding to its demands.
Kwame had an intense desire to learn the piano, practising for two hours every day.
- passionate
implies strong positive emotion such as love or enthusiasm
- earnest
suggests sincerity and seriousness without the emotional intensity
- fierce
stronger and more aggressive; suggests competition or conflict
文法句型
intense + noun
be + intense
用法筆記
Can describe a person's character (an intense person), their emotional state, or an activity that requires deep focus. Not used for physical sensations like heat or pain — that is sense 1.