intimately

UK: /ˈɪntɪmətli/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

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 © 2026

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.