INTENSIFIER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does intensifier mean? 

• INTENSIFIER (noun)
  The noun INTENSIFIER has 1 sense:

1. a modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies

  Familiarity information: INTENSIFIER used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INTENSIFIER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

intensifier; intensive

Context example:

'honestly' in 'I honestly don't know' is an intensifier

Hypernyms ("intensifier" is a kind of...):

modifier; qualifier (a content word that qualifies the meaning of a noun or verb)

Domain member usage:

most (very)

precious; preciously; goddam; goddamn; goddamned (extremely)

candidly; frankly; honestly ((used as intensives reflecting the speaker's attitude) it is sincerely the case that)

just; simply ((used for emphasis) absolutely)

ever; ever so ((intensifier for adjectives) very)

marvellously; marvelously; superbly; terrifically; toppingly; wonderfully; wondrous; wondrously ((used as an intensifier) extremely well)

positively (extremely)

such (to so extreme a degree)

so (to a very great extent or degree)

hellishly; infernally (extremely)

literally ((intensifier before a figurative expression) without exaggeration)

downright (thoroughgoing)

deadly; deucedly; devilishly; insanely; madly ((used as intensives) extremely)

in truth; really; truly (in fact (used as intensifiers or sentence modifiers))

mightily; mighty; powerful; right ((Southern regional intensive) very; to a great degree)

all-fired; all-firedly; bloody; damn (extremely)

well ((used for emphasis or as an intensifier) entirely or fully)

every last ((used as intensive) every)

living ((informal) absolute)

Derivation:

intensify (make more intense, stronger, or more marked)