What does intensity mean?
Word: Intensity
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Intensity means how strong, deep or extreme something is, such as heat, light, a feeling or an effort.
Synonyms: strength, force, power, fierceness
Antonyms: weakness
How do you spell intensity?
Syllables: in - ten - si - ty
Tricky part: The hissing sound in the middle is spelt with an s, not a c: intencity is the usual slip.
Watch out for: intencity, intenscity
Memory tip: Picture the strong hiss of a snake: intensity keeps that s sound as an s and never takes a c.
Intensity in a sentence
Example 1: The intensity of the afternoon sun in Rajasthan keeps people indoors.
Example 2: She practised the piano with such intensity that she forgot about lunch.
Example 3: The cyclone lost intensity as it moved inland.
Fun Fact
Earthquake intensity is not the same as magnitude. Magnitude measures the energy released, while intensity describes how strongly the shaking is felt at a particular place.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
int_ns_ty
a) i,i
b) e,e
c) e,i
d) a,i
Show answer
c) e,i. In-TEN-si-ty: the stressed syllable has an e, and the ending ity starts with an i.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word intensity as used in the sentence:
The intensity of the summer heat surprised our visitors from Shimla.
a) sharpness
b) harshness
c) severity
d) mildness
Show answer
d) mildness. Severity, harshness and sharpness all describe strong heat; mildness is the opposite.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. intensitty 2. generosity 3. scarcity 4. curiosity
a) the strength or degree of something
b) readiness to give freely
c) a shortage of something needed
d) a strong wish to know or learn
Show answer
a) the strength or degree of something. Curiosity, generosity and scarcity are all spelt correctly; intensity has no double t.
Mingle-Mangle
Rearrange the jumbled letters in the sentence to find the right word:
The ninsetiyt of the Holi colours made every photo glow.
a) integrity
b) intensity
c) sensitivity
d) intensify
Show answer
b) intensity. There is no f, g or r in the jumble, and only one s, so it cannot be intensify, integrity or sensitivity.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Light of great intensity could be described as ____.
a) a faint flicker
b) a pale shadow
c) a dazzling beam
d) a dim glow
Show answer
c) a dazzling beam
2. Which unit is used to measure the intensity of a sound?
a) litre
b) kilometre
c) decibel
d) kilogram
Show answer
c) decibel
