Basic Details
Word: Intimately
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: In a very close and detailed way; to know something intimately is to know it very well.
Synonyms: closely, thoroughly, deeply, personally
Antonyms: distantly, superficially
How to Spell Intimately
Syllables: in - ti - mate - ly
Tricky part: Intimate keeps its e when ly is added. The second syllable is ti, not te, and only one l is needed.
Watch out for: intimatly, intimetely, intemately
Memory tip: Write intimate first - in, ti, mate, with a mate at the end - then add ly. You know your mate intimately.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The old boatman knows every bend of the river intimately.
Example 2: History and geography are intimately linked.
Example 3: Grandpa knew the lanes of the old bazaar intimately and never needed a map.
Fun Fact
Intimately goes back to the Latin intimus, meaning innermost, so to know a place intimately is to know it right down to its inner corners.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to intimately as used in the sentence:
The forest guide knew the paths intimately, so we never once lost our way in the dark.
a) nervously
b) thoroughly
c) slightly
d) rarely
Show answer
b) thoroughly. Knowing paths so well that nobody gets lost means knowing them thoroughly.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
intimatelly
a) t
b) a
c) l
d) m
Show answer
c) l. Ly brings just one l to intimate.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. definately 2. immediatly 3. intimately 4. seperately
a) in a very close or detailed way
b) apart, one at a time
c) at once
d) without any doubt
Show answer
a) in a very close or detailed way. Definitely, separately and immediately are the real spellings, so intimately is the only correct word in the list.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. To know a city intimately is to know ____.
a) only what its weather is like
b) only its name and nothing more
c) nothing at all about the place
d) its streets and corners very well
Show answer
d) its streets and corners very well
2. What is the opposite of intimately?
a) deeply
b) warmly
c) closely
d) distantly
Show answer
d) distantly
