intensify

/ɪnˌtɛnsəˈfaɪ/

/ɪnˈtɛnsəfaɪ/

Other forms: intensified; intensifying; intensifies

To intensify is to increase the intensity, force, or power of something. If you snap a selfie and the colors aren't intense enough, you may be able to intensify them with a photo editor.

You can see the word "intense" in intensify, which clues you in to the meaning of the verb. When you make something more intense, you intensify it — make it more of whatever it is. Believe it or not, a pinch of salt can actually intensify the sweetness of the sugar in a cake. It makes it even sweeter. Storm chasers never know whether a tornado will continue to intensify or begin to abate as they approach — and the difference could mean life or death for them.

Definitions of intensify

1. verb

   increase in extent or intensity
   synonyms: escalate, step up

   types:

   redouble

   double in magnitude, extent, or intensity

   type of:

   increase

   make bigger or more
2. verb

   make more intense, stronger, or more marked
   “"The efforts were intensified", "Her rudeness intensified his dislike for her”

   synonyms: compound, deepen, heighten

   types:

   heat up, hot up, screw up

   make more intense

   fan

   make (an emotion) fiercer

   enhance, heighten, raise

   increase

   amplify

   increase the volume of

   sharpen

   make crisp or more crisp and precise

   heighten, sharpen

   make (one's senses) more acute

   potentiate

   increase the effect of or act synergistically with (a drug or a physiological or biochemical phenomenon)

   subtilise, subtilize

   make (senses) more keen

   type of:

   increase

   become bigger or greater in amount
3. verb

   make the chemically affected part of (a negative) denser or more opaque in order produce a stronger contrast between light and dark
   type of:

   alter, change, modify

   cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
4. verb

   become more intense
   “The debate intensified”

   synonyms: deepen

   types:

   build

   develop and grow

   redouble

   make twice as great or intense

   break open, burst out, erupt, flare, flare up, irrupt

   erupt or intensify suddenly

   condense

   become more compact or concentrated

   sharpen

   become sharp or sharper

   accelerate, quicken, speed, speed up

   move faster

   brisk, brisk up, brisken

   become brisk

   type of:

   increase

   become bigger or greater in amount