What does intimate mean?
Intimate describes a relationship, detail, experience, or connection that is close, personal, and usually private. It can refer to emotional familiarity, as in an intimate friendship; to confidentiality, as in intimate information; or to sexual or romantic involvement. The word often conveys more than merely being close: it suggests a degree of personal knowledge, openness, or emotional depth. In the plural noun intimates, it means close personal friends, though this use is mainly literary or archaic. In the rare formal verb sense, to intimate something means to make it known or announce it. The adjective can also describe knowledge acquired through extensive experience, as in an intimate understanding of a subject. In everyday use, intimate relationships and conversations are common topics, while phrases such as intimate details emphasize privacy. The word is used in similar ways in British and American English.
Closely connected personally, emotionally, or privately; involving close familiarity, confidence, or confidentiality.
"They maintained an intimate friendship despite living in different countries."
Context determines whether the word primarily suggests emotional closeness, privacy, or sexual and romantic involvement.
In a close, personal, or highly detailed manner; very closely.
"The witness knew the layout of the building intimately."
This form is especially common with verbs such as know and understand.
A close personal friend.
"She spoke with an intimate before making the decision."
Chiefly literary, poetic, or archaic; the usual modern plural is intimates.
To make known or announce; inform.
"The messenger intimated that the king had departed."
Rare and formal; modern speakers usually say make known, announce, or inform.
The plural is used when referring to several close personal friends; the noun itself is chiefly literary or archaic.
"The play explores the loyalties and conflicts among a group of intimates."
Intimate began with a whisper: its Latin root, intimus, means “innermost,” the idea of something belonging to the self rather than to the public world.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How intimate is actually used
The adjective is common in both formal and informal English, but its meaning depends on context: it can describe close friendship, confidentiality, or sexual and romantic involvement. The noun is chiefly literary or archaic, while the verb is rare and formal.