Standard Lemma guide

intimate

adj · noun · verb · 19 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • ĭn'tĭmət
  • /ˈɪn.tɪ.mət/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • ĭn'tĭmāt
  • /ˈɪn.tɪ.meɪt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: IH1 N T AH0 M AH0 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: IH1 N T AH0 M EY2 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 3: IH1 N AH0 M AH0 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Closely acquainted; familiar.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • an intimate friend
  • He and his sister deeply valued their intimate relationship as they didn't have much else to live for.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: thick

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Personal; private.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • an intimate setting

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Pertaining to sex organs or underwear.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: euphemistic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Pertaining to sexual acts or a sexual relationship.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: euphemistic

Examples

  • She enjoyed some intimate time alone with her husband.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adj

Meaning 5

Pertaining to details that require great familiarity to know.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The candidate showed an intimate knowledge of the inner workings of politics.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adj

Meaning 6

Very finely mixed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Black powder consists of an intimate mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

A very close friend.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Only a couple of intimates had ever read his writing.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bosom buddy, bosom friend, cater-cousin

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

Women's underwear, sleepwear, or lingerie, especially offered for sale in a store.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: in the plural intimates

Examples

  • You'll find bras and panties in the intimates section upstairs.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: intimate apparel

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To suggest or disclose (something) discreetly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

Examples

  • He intimated that we should leave before the argument escalated.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hint

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To notify.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: India, transitive

Examples

  • I will intimate you when the details are available.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

adjective satellite

Meaning 11

having mutual interests or affections; of established friendship

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • on familiar terms
  • pretending she is on an intimate footing with those she slanders

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: familiar

Antonyms: none provided

12

adjective satellite

Meaning 12

marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity - V.L. Parrington

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • intimate friend
  • intimate relations between economics, politics, and legal principles

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

adjective satellite

Meaning 13

thoroughly acquainted through study or experience-W.H.Hudson- Herbert Read

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • this girl, so intimate with nature
  • knowledgeable about the technique of painting

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: knowledgeable, versed

Antonyms: none provided

14

adjective satellite

Meaning 14

having or fostering a warm or friendly and informal atmosphere

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • had a cozy chat
  • a relaxed informal manner
  • an intimate cocktail lounge
  • the small room was cozy and intimate

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cozy, informal

Antonyms: none provided

15

adjective satellite

Meaning 15

innermost or essential

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the inner logic of Cubism
  • the internal contradictions of the theory
  • the intimate structure of matter

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inner, internal

Antonyms: none provided

16

adjective satellite

Meaning 16

involved in a sexual relationship

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the intimate (or sexual) relations between husband and wife
  • she had been intimate with many men
  • he touched her intimate parts

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sexual

Antonyms: none provided

17

noun

Meaning 17

someone to whom private matters are confided

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: confidant

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: friend

Narrower terms: confidante, repository, secretary

18

verb

Meaning 18

give to understand

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I insinuated that I did not like his wife

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: adumbrate, insinuate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: hint, suggest

19

verb

Meaning 19

imply as a possibility

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The evidence suggests a need for more clarification

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: suggest

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: imply

Narrower terms: make out

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin intimātus, the perfect passive participle of intimō (“to put or bring into, to impress, to make familiar”) (see -ate (adjective forming suffix)), from intimus (“inmost, innermost, most intimate”), superlative of intus (“within”), from in (“in”); see interior.

From a substantivization of the above adjective, see -ate (noun-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more.

From Latin intimātus, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more. Cognate with French intimer.

Across languages

Translations

130 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: интимен (intimen) — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Catalan: íntim — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Czech: důvěrný — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Dutch: innig — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Esperanto: intima — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Estonian: lähedane — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Finnish: tuttu — closely acquainted; familiar
  • French: intime — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Galician: íntimo — closely acquainted; familiar
  • German: vertraut — closely acquainted; familiar
  • German: innig — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Greek: στενός (stenós) — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Greek: οικείος (oikeíos) — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Hungarian: meghitt — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Hungarian: közeli — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Irish: caidreamhach — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Italian: stretto — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Italian: intimo — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Korean: 친(親)하다 (chinhada) — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Korean: 친밀(親密)하다 (chinmilhada) — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Latvian: intīms — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Latvian: tuvs — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Māori: taupiri — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Māori: kauawhiawhi — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Māori: takapui — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Eastern Mari: лишыл (ĺišyl) — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Norwegian Bokmål: intim — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Norwegian Bokmål: fortrolig — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Persian: صَمیمی (samimi) — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Polish: bliski — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Portuguese: íntimo — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Romanian: intim — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Russian: бли́зкий (blízkij) — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Spanish: íntimo — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Swedish: intim — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Thai: สนิท (sà-nìt) — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Thai: สนิทสนม — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Thai: ใกล้ชิด — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Ukrainian: інти́мний (intýmnyj) — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Ukrainian: близьки́й (blyzʹkýj) — closely acquainted; familiar
  • Bulgarian: интимен (intimen) — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Catalan: íntim — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Chinese Mandarin: 親近 /亲近 (qīnjìn) — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Chinese Mandarin: 親密 /亲密 (qīnmì) — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Dutch: intiem — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Estonian: intiimne — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Finnish: intiimi — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • French: intime — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Galician: íntimo — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • German: intim — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Greek: ενδόμυχος (endómychos) — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Hungarian: intim — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Italian: intimo — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Japanese: 親密な (shinmitsu na) — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Latvian: intīms — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Norman: întînme — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Norwegian Bokmål: intim — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Polish: intymny — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Portuguese: íntimo — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Romanian: intim — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Russian: инти́мный (intímnyj) — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Swedish: intim — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Ukrainian: інти́мний (intýmnyj) — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Yiddish: אינטימיש (intimish) — of or involved in a sexual relationship
  • Bulgarian: личен (ličen) — personal, private
  • Bulgarian: съкровен (sǎkroven) — personal, private
  • Catalan: íntim — personal, private
  • Esperanto: intima — personal, private
  • Estonian: isiklik — personal, private
  • Finnish: henkilökohtainen — personal, private
  • Galician: íntimo — personal, private
  • Greek: ιδιωτικός (idiotikós) — personal, private
  • Greek: προσωπικός (prosopikós) — personal, private
  • Hungarian: bizalmas — personal, private
  • Italian: privato — personal, private
  • Italian: proprio — personal, private
  • Italian: personale — personal, private
  • Latvian: intīms — personal, private
  • Latvian: personisks — personal, private
  • Norwegian Bokmål: intim — personal, private
  • Norwegian Bokmål: privat — personal, private
  • Norwegian Bokmål: personlig — personal, private
  • Polish: osobisty — personal, private
  • Polish: intymny — personal, private
  • Portuguese: íntimo — personal, private
  • Portuguese: pessoal — personal, private
  • Romanian: intim — personal, private
  • Romanian: personal — personal, private
  • Russian: ли́чный (líčnyj) — personal, private
  • Spanish: íntimo — personal, private
  • Swedish: intim — personal, private
  • Thai: ส่วนตัว (sùuan-dtuua) — personal, private
  • Ukrainian: інти́мний (intýmnyj) — personal, private
  • Yiddish: אינטים (intim) — personal, private
  • Belarusian: блізкі сябар (blizki sjabar) — very close friend
  • Belarusian: блізкі сябра (blizki sjabra) — very close friend
  • Belarusian: блізкая сяброўка (blizkaja sjabrówka) — very close friend
  • Belarusian: таечка (taječka) — very close friend
  • Bulgarian: близък приятел (blizǎk prijatel) — very close friend
  • Estonian: lähedane sõber — very close friend
  • Finnish: läheinen ystävä — very close friend
  • Hungarian: kebelbarát — very close friend
  • Irish: caidreamhach — very close friend
  • Italian: amico per la pelle — very close friend
  • Portuguese: íntimo — very close friend
  • Russian: близкий друг — very close friend
  • Russian: близкая подруга (blizkaja podruga) — very close friend
  • Russian: наперсник (napersnik) — very close friend
  • Russian: наперсница (napersnica) — very close friend
  • Bulgarian: бельо (beljo) — intimates: women's underwear, sleepwear or lingerie
  • Italian: biancheria intima — intimates: women's underwear, sleepwear or lingerie
  • Bulgarian: намеквам (namekvam) — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Bulgarian: подмятам (podmjatam) — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Dutch: suggereren — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Dutch: laten doorschemeren — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Esperanto: intimi — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Finnish: antaa ymmärtää — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Finnish: vihjata — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • German: vorsichtig andeuten — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Ancient Greek: ὑποσημαίνω (huposēmaínō) — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Hungarian: utal — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Hungarian: céloz — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Irish: cuir in iúl — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Latin: subsōnō — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Polish: sugerować — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Polish: zasugerować — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Russian: намекать (namekatʹ) — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Russian: извещать (izveščatʹ) — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Spanish: intimar — To suggest or disclose discreetly
  • Swedish: antyda — To suggest or disclose discreetly