intimate

UK: adjective: /ˈɪntɪmət/, verb: /ˈɪntɪmeɪt/

US: /ˈɪntəmɪt/

US: (adj., n. in′tə mit; v. in′tə māt′)

Inflections of 'intimate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

intimates

v 3rd person singular

intimating

v pres p

intimated

v past

intimated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•ti•mate¹ /ˈɪntəmɪt/   adj. 

1. associated in close personal relationship:
   intimate friends.
2. private;
   personal:
   [before a noun] an intimate secret.
3. offering privacy;
   cozy:
   We had a romantic lunch at an intimate café.
4. (of knowledge, understanding, etc.) coming from close personal connection, study, or familiar experience;
   deep and detailed:
   [before a noun] intimate knowledge of a subject.
5. engaging in or characterized by sexual relations:
   had been intimate more than once.
6. Clothing (of clothing) worn next to the skin:
   [before a noun] intimate lingerie.

n. [countable]

7. an intimate friend or associate.

in•ti•mate•ly, adv. 

in•ti•mate² /ˈɪntəˌmeɪt/   v., -mat•ed, -mat•ing. 

1. to indicate or make known indirectly;
   hint;
   imply;
   suggest: [~ + object]
   He intimated his dislike.
   [~ + (that) clause]
   He intimated that he would accept if certain conditions were met.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•ti•mate¹  (in′tə mit), adj. 

1. associated in close personal relations:
   an intimate friend.
2. characterized by or involving warm friendship or a personally close or familiar association or feeling:
   an intimate greeting.
3. very private;
   closely personal:
   one's intimate affairs.
4. characterized by or suggesting privacy or intimacy;
   warmly cozy:
   an intimate little café.
5. (of an association, knowledge, understanding, etc.) arising from close personal connection or familiar experience.
6. engaged in or characterized by sexual relations.
7. Clothing (of clothing) worn next to the skin, under street or outer garments:
   intimate apparel.
8. detailed;
   deep:
   a more intimate analysis.
9. showing a close union or combination of particles or elements:
   an intimate mixture.
10. inmost;
    deep within.
11. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the inmost or essential nature;
    intrinsic:
    the intimate structure of an organism.
12. of, pertaining to, or existing in the inmost depths of the mind:
    intimate beliefs.

n. 

13. an intimate friend or associate, esp. a confidant.

• Latin intim(us) a close friend (noun, nominal use of the adjective, adjectival; see intima) + -ate¹
• 1600–10

in′ti•mate•ly, adv. 
in′ti•mate•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. dear. See familiar. 
• 3. privy, secret.
• 8. exacting, thorough.
• 13. crony.

in•ti•mate²  (in′tə māt′), v.t., -mat•ed, -mat•ing. 

1. to indicate or make known indirectly;
   hint;
   imply;
   suggest.
2. [Archaic.] to make known;
   announce.

• Late Latin intimātus, past participle of intimāre to impress (upon), make known, equivalent. to intim(us) inmost (see intima) + -ātus -ate¹
• 1530–40

in′ti•mat′er, n. 
in′ti•ma′tion, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See hint. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

intimate / ˈɪntɪmɪt/ adjective

1. characterized by a close or warm personal relationship: an intimate friend
2. deeply personal, private, or secret
3. (often postpositive) followed by with: having sexual relations (with)
4. (postpositive) followed by with: having a deep or unusual knowledge (of)
5. (of knowledge) deep; extensive
6. having a friendly, warm, or informal atmosphere: an intimate nightclub
7. of or relating to the essential part or nature of something; intrinsic

noun

1. a close friend

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin intimus very close friend, from (adj): innermost, deepest, from intus within

ˈintimately adverb

ˈintimateness, intimity / ɪnˈtɪmɪtɪ/ noun

intimate / ˈɪntɪˌmeɪt/ verb (tr; may take a clause as object)

to hint; suggest

to proclaim; make known

Etymology: 16th Century: from Late Latin intimāre to proclaim, from Latin intimus innermost

ˈintiˌmater noun