intake
gb/ˈɪntˌeɪk/ us/ˈɪntˌeɪk/
B1
English
~ 7300
bevitel, fogyasztás, felvettek száma, felvételi létszám, évfolyam, beömlőnyílás, beszívónyílás, légbeömlő, felvételi folyamat, betegfelvétel, első állapotfelmérés, hirtelen levegővétel, levegővétel
NOUN
B1
1
bevitel
B2
fogyasztás
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s intake of [food/drink/substance]
The doctor told him to reduce his daily salt intake.
Az orvos azt mondta neki, hogy csökkentse a napi sóbevitelét.
Her calorie intake is too low for the amount of exercise she does.
A kalóriabevitele túl alacsony az edzésmennyiségéhez képest.
In hot weather, you should increase your water intake.
The study examined the children’s intake of sugar-sweetened drinks.
High alcohol intake can damage your liver over time.
Learner examples
My coffee intake is too high.
Túl sok kávét fogyasztok.
He keeps a record of his daily water intake.
Felírja a napi vízbevitelét.
The nurse asked about my sugar intake.
She cut her alcohol intake after the health scare.
You should watch your salt intake.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to use 'intake' as a verb, for example, *I intake a lot of water*. In this meaning, 'intake' is a noun. Use verbs like 'drink', 'eat', or 'take in': 'I drink a lot of water' or 'I take in a lot of water.' Learners also sometimes forget 'of' and say *my intake sugar* instead of the correct 'my intake of sugar'.
Meaning
amount of food or other substance consumed
Collocations
calorie intake
|daily intake
|alcohol intake
|sugar intake
|food intake
|limit your intake
Synonyms
consumption (More general and slightly more formal; can refer to using energy or resources as well as eating or drinking.)
|
ingestion (More technical and medical; focuses on the physical act of taking something into the body.)
Antonyms
output (Refers to the amount going out of a body or system, in contrast to intake as the amount going in.)
|
expenditure (In health and fitness, often used for calories burned, which contrasts with calorie intake.)
Themes
health
|food
|daily life
|food_drink
|core_vocabulary
Definition
How much food, drink, or other substance a person or animal takes into the body in a certain time.
The amount of food, drink, medicine, or other substance that a person or animal takes into their body, especially over a particular period of time.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
the intake of [people] into [organization/place]
This year’s intake of medical students is the largest ever.
Az idén felvett orvostanhallgatók létszáma minden eddiginél nagyobb.
The company plans to double its intake of apprentices next year.
A cég jövőre meg akarja duplázni a felvett gyakornokok számát.
Australia has increased its annual intake of skilled migrants.
The prison is already full, but the next intake of inmates arrives tomorrow.
We have a new intake of graduates starting in September.
Learner examples
The 2025 intake of students is very big.
A 2025-ben felvett diákok száma nagyon nagy.
Our school has two intakes of new students each year.
Az iskolánk évente kétszer vesz fel új diákokat.
The firm reduced its intake of new staff.
The country cut its intake of refugees.
There will be another intake of trainees in July.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *intake students* instead of 'intake of students'. 'Intake' usually needs 'of' before the group, for example, 'an intake of 200 students'. They may also confuse 'intake' with 'income'; 'income' is money you receive, not people entering.
Meaning
group or number of people admitted
Collocations
new intake
|annual intake
|student intake
|intake of trainees
|prison intake
|refugee intake
Synonyms
enrollment (Used especially in education; focuses on the act or state of being registered as a member or student.)
|
recruitment (Common in business and the military; focuses more on the process of finding and hiring people rather than the final number.)
Antonyms
outflow (Refers to people leaving a place or organization, in contrast to intake as people entering.)
|
turnover (When used about staff, it focuses on people leaving and being replaced, which contrasts with a single incoming intake group.)
Themes
education
|work
|government
|business
|law
Definition
The group or number of people that enter a school, company, program, or country at one time.
The number or group of people accepted into an organization, school, program, or country at a particular time.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
the [air/liquid] intake of [machine/system]
Leaves had blocked the air intake on the generator.
A levelek eltömítették a generátor légbeömlőjét.
The engineer checked the intake valve for signs of corrosion.
A mérnök ellenőrizte, nincs-e korrózió nyoma a szívószelepen.
A bird was sucked into the jet’s air intake.
The new design increases airflow through the engine intake.
The water intake for the plant is located upstream from the town.
Learner examples
The air intake on the car is dirty.
Az autó légbeömlője piszkos.
Water enters the system through this intake.
A víz ezen a beömlőnyíláson keresztül jut be a rendszerbe.
They cleaned the intake valve.
The fan pulls air in through the intake.
Fish were trapped near the power station’s water intake.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the more common 'intake' related to eating and drinking. In this technical sense, 'intake' is a physical part of a machine, usually heard in phrases like 'air intake' or 'intake valve'.
Meaning
opening where air or fluid enters
Collocations
air intake
|intake valve
|intake manifold
|engine intake
|intake pipe
|water intake
Synonyms
inlet (A general technical term for an entry opening for a fluid; often interchangeable with 'intake' in engineering contexts.)
Antonyms
outlet (An opening where liquid, gas, or air leaves a system, opposite to an intake where it enters.)
|
exhaust (Specifically used for the system or opening where waste gases leave an engine, contrasting with the air intake.)
Themes
technology
|engineering
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A hole or part of a machine where air, water, or gas goes in.
An opening, valve, or pipe through which air, liquid, or gas enters a machine, engine, or system.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
the intake [process/form/interview] for [service/organization]
Please fill out this intake form before you see the doctor.
Kérjük, töltse ki ezt a felvételi adatlapot, mielőtt találkozik az orvossal.
The clinic’s intake process takes about thirty minutes.
A klinika felvételi folyamata körülbelül harminc percet vesz igénybe.
During the intake interview, the counselor will ask about your medical history.
We are hiring more staff to handle the growing client intake.
Legal aid will review your case during the intake assessment.
Learner examples
The nurse gave me an intake form to write my details.
A nővér adott nekem egy felvételi adatlapot, hogy beírjam az adataimat.
Intake at the hospital emergency room was very slow.
A kórházi sürgősségi osztályon nagyon lassú volt a betegfelvétel.
You must finish the intake process before you see a lawyer.
The social worker did an intake interview with the family.
Our office has a special intake team for new clients.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'intake' here means only 'amount'. In medical and social service contexts, 'intake' often refers to paperwork and first meetings with staff. It is usually followed by words like 'form', 'process', or 'interview'.
Meaning
initial registration and assessment process
Collocations
intake form
|intake interview
|intake process
|intake assessment
|intake worker
|client intake
Synonyms
admission process (More general and slightly more formal; used widely in hospitals and institutions for the process of entering.)
|
onboarding (Common in business for new employees; similar idea of starting with a service or organization but more workplace-focused and informal.)
Antonyms
discharge (In hospitals and institutions, refers to the process of letting someone leave, which is the opposite of intake.)
Themes
work
|medicine
|law
|health
Definition
The first step when a hospital, clinic, or office takes in a new person and collects information about them.
The first stage in which a service, such as a hospital, clinic, legal aid office, or social service agency, receives, registers, and evaluates new clients or patients.
NOUN
B2
5
Usage pattern:
an intake of [breath/air]
There was a sharp intake of breath when the price was announced.
Éles levegővétel hallatszott, amikor bejelentették az árat.
She let out a small intake of breath as the needle went in.
Amikor beszúrták a tűt, halkan beszívta a levegőt.
He heard an audible intake of breath behind him in the dark corridor.
The crowd gave a collective intake of breath as the player fell.
At his words, she drew in an involuntary intake of breath.
Learner examples
There was a loud intake of breath in the room.
Hangos levegővétel hallatszott a szobában.
She made a quick intake of breath when she saw the snake.
Hirtelen beszívta a levegőt, amikor meglátta a kígyót.
He felt a sharp intake of breath as the car hit the tree.
We all did an intake of breath when we heard the news.
I heard her intake of breath before she started to speak.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes read 'intake of breath' as if it were about 'amount of air' in a general way. In this fixed phrase, it refers to one quick, noticeable action of breathing in, not a long period or total amount.
Meaning
sudden act of breathing in
Collocations
an intake of breath
|a sharp intake of breath
|a sudden intake of breath
|an audible intake of breath
|a collective intake of breath
|a gasping intake of air
Synonyms
gasp (Often stronger and more emotional; suggests breathing in quickly and loudly, usually with surprise, fear, or pain.)
|
inhalation (More formal and medical; describes breathing in, not necessarily sudden or emotional.)
Antonyms
exhalation (The act of breathing out, which is the natural opposite of an intake of breath.)
|
sigh (A long, often audible breath out; commonly contrasts with a sharp intake of breath that shows surprise or shock.)
Themes
body
|emotions
|health
|core_vocabulary
Definition
One quick breath in, usually because you are surprised, afraid, or in pain.
A single, often sudden or noticeable, act of breathing in, especially because of surprise, shock, or pain.
Grammar
Dictionary form
intake
IPA
GB/ˈɪntˌeɪk/
US/ˈɪntˌeɪk/
Syllables & stress
in - take (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (in)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: intake
- Plural: intake, intakes
Word family
Expressions
air intake
1/ˈɛɹ ˈɪntˌeɪk/
fixed phrase
technical
opening where air enters an engine
The part of a machine or engine where air goes in.
Examples
- Dirt in the air intake can reduce the engine’s performance.
- The mechanic checked the air intake for any blockages.
- Cold air enters through the front air intake.
an intake of breath
1/ən ˈɪntˌeɪk əv bɹˈɛθ/
fixed phrase
one quick breath in of surprise
One sudden breath in, often because you are surprised, afraid, or in pain.
Examples
- There was an intake of breath when the winner was announced.
- She gave a small intake of breath as the door slammed behind her.
- I heard an intake of breath on the phone before he answered my question.
daily calorie intake
1/dˈeɪli kˈælɔɹi ˈɪntˌeɪk/
fixed phrase
calories eaten and drunk per day
The number of calories you get from food and drink in one day.
Examples
- Most adults should keep their daily calorie intake within a healthy range.
- The app helps you track your daily calorie intake.
- He cut his daily calorie intake by 500 to lose weight.
intake form
1/ˈɪntˌeɪk fˈɔɹm/
fixed phrase
technical
form for new client or patient details
A paper or online form that a new client or patient fills out with personal and basic information.
Examples
- Please complete this intake form before your appointment.
- The receptionist handed me an intake form to fill in.
- All new patients must sign an intake form at the front desk.
student intake
1/stˈudənt ˈɪntˌeɪk/
fixed phrase
group of students admitted
The group or number of students who start at a school or on a course at the same time.
Examples
- This year’s student intake is smaller than last year’s.
- The college plans to increase its student intake next year.
- Our September student intake is already full.
watch your intake
1/wˈɔt͡ʃ jˈʊɹ ˈɪntˌeɪk/
fixed phrase
monitor how much you consume
Be careful about how much you eat, drink, or use, usually for health reasons.
Examples
- If you are trying to lose weight, you need to watch your intake.
- People with high blood pressure should watch their salt intake.
- After the surgery, he had to watch his alcohol intake very carefully.