intimacy
gb/ˈɪntɪməsi/ us/ˈɪntɪməsi/
B2
English
~ 5400
meghittség, lelki közelség, érzelmi intimitás, szexuális intimitás, szexuális együttlét, testi intimitás, alapos ismeret, jártasság, bizalmas közlés, intim részlet, intim vallomás
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
intimacy between [people] / intimacy with [someone]
Over the years, a deep intimacy grew between the two friends.
Az évek során mély meghittség alakult ki a két barát között.
Couples therapy helped them rebuild the intimacy they had lost.
A párterápia segített nekik újra megteremteni a korábban elveszett meghittséget.
She values emotional intimacy more than expensive gifts.
The retreat was designed to foster intimacy and trust within the team.
Childhood experiences often shape how comfortable we feel with intimacy as adults.
Learner examples
There is a strong intimacy between the two sisters.
A két lánytestvér között szoros lelki közelség van.
They are afraid of intimacy and do not let people get close.
Félnek a lelki közelségtől, és nem engedik közel magukhoz az embereket.
Good communication can help create intimacy in a marriage.
He enjoys the intimacy of small, close friendships.
Trust is important for real intimacy.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "intimacy" to mean any friendly relationship. In English, "intimacy" usually suggests a very close, emotionally open relationship, not just being friendly. Also, use "intimacy with someone" or "intimacy between people", not "intimacy to someone".
Meaning
close, trusting personal relationship
Collocations
emotional intimacy
|intimacy between partners
|intimacy with [someone]
|build intimacy
|fear of intimacy
|intimacy issues
Synonyms
closeness (General word for a close relationship; less likely to imply deep emotional sharing than "intimacy".)
|
bond (Suggests a strong connection or tie; may be emotional but does not always imply private or vulnerable sharing.)
Antonyms
distance (Suggests lack of emotional closeness or connection between people.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|family
|romance
Definition
a very close and warm relationship where people trust each other and share their true feelings
A state of close, trusting, and often affectionate relationship between people, usually involving emotional openness and a sense of being personally known.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
physical/sexual intimacy with [someone]
He struggles with physical intimacy because of past trauma.
Egy korábbi trauma miatt nehézséget okoz neki a testi intimitás.
They agreed to wait before moving into sexual intimacy.
Megegyeztek, hogy még várnak a szexuális intimitással.
The movie shows their growing intimacy without explicit scenes.
Some cultures place strong rules around sexual intimacy before marriage.
After the surgery, they had to slowly rebuild their physical intimacy.
Learner examples
They are not ready for sexual intimacy yet.
Még nem állnak készen a szexuális intimitásra.
Physical intimacy is an important part of their relationship.
A testi intimitás fontos része a kapcsolatuknak.
She has a fear of intimacy after a bad experience.
They talk about their needs for intimacy in the marriage.
The couple lost intimacy and felt more like roommates.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "sex" when they want a softer or more polite word; "intimacy" is often used as a more gentle or private-sounding term. Also, do not say "do intimacy"; instead say "have physical intimacy" or "engage in intimacy".
Meaning
sexual or very close physical contact
Collocations
physical intimacy
|sexual intimacy
|intimacy with a partner
|engage in intimacy
|fear of physical intimacy
|intimacy in a marriage
Synonyms
sexual relations (More formal and direct; clearly refers to sex, while "intimacy" can sound softer or more euphemistic.)
Antonyms
abstinence (Refers to choosing not to have sexual activity, which is the opposite of engaging in sexual intimacy.)
Themes
sex
|relationships
|romance
|body
Definition
sexual activity or very close touching between people in a romantic relationship
Sexual activity or very close physical contact between people, especially within a romantic relationship.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
3
jártasság
B2
Usage pattern:
intimacy with [a subject/area]
The lawyer's intimacy with international trade law made her invaluable to the company.
A nemzetközi kereskedelmi jog alapos ismerete miatt az ügyvédnő felbecsülhetetlen értékű volt a vállalat számára.
His writing shows an impressive intimacy with local history.
Írása a helyi történelem lenyűgözően alapos ismeretéről tanúskodik.
Years of fieldwork gave her an intimacy with the landscape that few researchers possess.
The guide spoke with an intimacy with the city that only a lifelong resident could have.
Her intimacy with the software allowed her to solve problems quickly.
Learner examples
She has an intimacy with the subject after many years of study.
Sok évnyi tanulás után alapos ismerete van a témáról.
His intimacy with the city streets helps him drive without a map.
A város utcáinak alapos ismerete segít neki abban, hogy térkép nélkül vezessen.
The teacher shows intimacy with the language in every lesson.
After ten years in the job, he gained intimacy with the system.
The artist's intimacy with color is clear in her paintings.
Common mistake:
Learners usually use "knowledge of" or "familiarity with" in this sense and may not realize "intimacy" can also describe detailed knowledge. This use is more formal and is not common in everyday conversation.
Meaning
deep familiarity with something
Collocations
intimacy with the law
|intimacy with the subject
|intimacy with the city
|intimacy with the details
|a rare intimacy with nature
|intimacy with the material
Synonyms
familiarity (Very close in meaning; "intimacy" is slightly stronger and more personal or thorough than general "familiarity".)
Antonyms
ignorance (Indicates a lack of knowledge, which is the opposite of deep familiarity or intimacy with something.)
Themes
knowledge
|work
|arts
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
very close and detailed knowledge of something because you have known or studied it for a long time
A deep, detailed familiarity with something, such as a subject, system, or place, gained through long experience or study.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
4
Usage pattern:
share/exchange intimacies with [someone]
Late at night they exchanged quiet intimacies about their fears and hopes.
Késő éjjel csendben bizalmas vallomásokat osztottak meg egymással a félelmeikről és a reményeikről.
She was embarrassed that their private intimacies had become public gossip.
Kínosan érezte magát, amiért a magánéletük intim részletei közszájon forogtak.
In his letters he poured out intimacies he never spoke aloud.
The novel is filled with whispered intimacies between the two characters.
He regretted sharing such intimacies with someone he barely knew.
Learner examples
They sit together and share intimacies about their lives.
Együtt ülnek, és bizalmas részleteket osztanak meg egymással az életükről.
She tells her best friend many intimacies she tells no one else.
A legjobb barátjának sok olyan bizalmas dolgot elmond, amit senki másnak.
The diary is full of personal intimacies.
He does not like to exchange intimacies with people at work.
The book includes the writer's private intimacies.
Common mistake:
Learners may not recognize that "intimacies" is often used in the plural to mean very personal things that people say or do. This sense is less common in everyday speech and appears more in books or formal writing.
Meaning
sharing very private thoughts
Collocations
share intimacies
|exchange intimacies
|whispered intimacies
|private intimacies
|confidential intimacies
|reveal intimacies
Synonyms
confidences (Often used in plural; suggests private or secret things told to someone you trust, similar to "intimacies" but slightly more neutral.)
Antonyms
small talk (Light, impersonal conversation, which is the opposite of sharing deep, private intimacies.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
|relationships
Definition
a very personal thing that you say or do when you share your private thoughts or secret feelings with someone, often used as "intimacies"
A private remark, action, or exchange in which people reveal very personal thoughts, feelings, or details about their lives, often used in the plural.
Grammar
Dictionary form
intimacy
IPA
GB/ˈɪntɪməsi/
US/ˈɪntɪməsi/
Syllables & stress
in - tim - acy (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (in)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: intimacy
- Plural: intimacies, intimacy
Word family
Forms
intimacies
noun
Core family
intimate
adjective B2
intimately
adverb C1
Expressions
a sense of intimacy
1/ə sˈɛns əv ˈɪntɪməsi/
fixed phrase
feeling that things are close and private
a feeling that people are very close and private with each other or in a place
Examples
- The small restaurant creates a sense of intimacy with its soft lighting.
- Sharing personal stories can build a sense of intimacy in a group.
create intimacy
1/kɹiˈeɪt ˈɪntɪməsi/
fixed phrase
cause people to become close
to make people feel closer and more open with each other
Examples
- Honest conversations can create intimacy in a relationship.
- The workshop uses group exercises to create intimacy among participants.
emotional intimacy
1/ɪmˈoʊʃənəl ˈɪntɪməsi/
fixed phrase
close and trusting emotional bond
a very close and open emotional relationship where people feel safe to share their true feelings
Examples
- They have strong emotional intimacy but still struggle with physical closeness.
- The therapist helped the couple rebuild emotional intimacy after the affair.
fear of intimacy
1/fˈɪɹ əv ˈɪntɪməsi/
fixed phrase
fear of getting very close to others
a strong fear of being very close to other people in an emotional or physical way
Examples
- His fear of intimacy makes it hard for him to stay in long-term relationships.
- Therapy can help people understand the roots of their fear of intimacy.
intimacy issues
1/ˈɪntɪməsi ˈɪʃuz/
fixed phrase
problems with closeness in relationships
difficulties with being emotionally or physically close to other people
Examples
- She is in therapy to work on her intimacy issues.
- Many couples face intimacy issues after a major conflict.
physical intimacy
1/fˈɪzɪkəl ˈɪntɪməsi/
fixed phrase
very close physical or sexual contact
touching another person in a very close and romantic or sexual way
Examples
- After the accident, physical intimacy was painful for him for a long time.
- Some couples find it hard to talk openly about physical intimacy.
sexual intimacy
1/sˈɛkʃuəl ˈɪntɪməsi/
fixed phrase
sexual activity between partners
sex or very close sexual contact between people in a romantic relationship
Examples
- They decided to wait before having sexual intimacy.
- The book discusses how illness can affect sexual intimacy in marriage.