intensifier
C1Technical / Academic (Linguistics, Grammar). Used in everyday speech to describe language features.
Definition
Meaning
A word or expression that strengthens or emphasizes the meaning of another element.
In grammar, a specific type of adverb (or adverbial phrase) that modifies adjectives or other adverbs to indicate a higher degree. In broader linguistics, any morpheme, word, or construction that serves to increase semantic force.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most commonly refers to adverbs like 'very', 'extremely', 'absolutely', but also includes prefixes (e.g., 'arch-enemy'), repetitive structures ('very, very cold'), and swear words used emphatically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage of specific intensifier words differs (e.g., 'bloody' is more characteristically British, 'real' as in 'real good' is more characteristically American informal). The term 'intensifier' itself is identical in technical use.
Connotations
The term is neutral and technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in linguistic/grammatical contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
INTENSIFIER + ADJECTIVE (extremely cold)INTENSIFIER + ADVERB (terribly slowly)INTENSIFIER + VERB (I absolutely agree)INTENSIFIER + NOUN (a complete disaster)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'Turn up the volume' (metaphorically, as an intensifier does to language).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used, except in contexts like marketing copy ('extremely effective solution') or training on persuasive language.
Academic
Common in linguistics, grammar, and language studies papers.
Everyday
Used when discussing language, e.g., 'You used a strong intensifier there.'
Technical
Standard term in grammatical and semantic analysis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- 'Very' can intensify an adjective, as in 'very good'.
- The phrase serves to intensify the emotional impact.
American English
- 'Real' is sometimes used to intensify adjectives informally, like 'real quick'.
- She used the word to intensify her argument.
adverb
British English
- (This part of speech is the category most intensifiers belong to, not used to modify 'intensifier' itself.)
American English
- (This part of speech is the category most intensifiers belong to, not used to modify 'intensifier' itself.)
adjective
British English
- The intensifier function of that adverb is clear.
- We studied intensifier particles in Old English.
American English
- He made an intensifier gesture with his hands.
- The intensifier role is crucial in that sentence.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- 'Very' is a simple intensifier.
- She is very happy.
- In the sentence 'It's extremely hot', 'extremely' is an intensifier.
- Some intensifiers, like 'really', are used in informal speech.
- Linguists classify 'absolutely' and 'utterly' as maximizing intensifiers.
- The overuse of intensifiers can make writing seem less credible.
- The grammaticalisation of lexical items into intensifiers is a common diachronic process.
- Her critique was scathing, employing a series of intensifiers that left no room for ambiguity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an INTENSIFIER as making meaning more INTENSE. It's like the volume knob for a word.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A FORCE; intensifiers are amplifiers of that force.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'усилитель' in the sense of a sound amplifier (though conceptually related).
- Russian often uses prefixes (пере-, архи-) or different syntactic structures for intensification, so the grammatical category may feel foreign.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'intensifier' to refer to any emphatic word (it has a specific grammatical role).
- Confusing intensifiers with comparative/superlative forms ('more/most' are degrees of comparison, not pure intensifiers).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be considered a grammatical intensifier?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An intensifier is a function (usually performed by an adverb) that modifies another word to increase its intensity. Adjectives describe nouns.
Yes, in certain constructions. For example, in 'a heap of trouble', 'heap' acts as an intensifier of 'trouble'. Swear words can also function as noun-intensifiers (e.g., 'That's a damn shame').
A downtoner or mitigator, such as 'quite', 'fairly', 'rather', or 'kind of', which reduce the force of the word they modify.
Overuse (e.g., 'very, very, extremely important') can make language seem hyperbolic, less precise, and weaken its overall impact, as it dilutes the strength of the words being modified.