increase in intensity

USAGE SUMMARY

'increase in intensity' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when describing something that has become more intense, such as a situation, emotion, or physical sensation. For example, "The thunderstorm grew in intensity as the night went on."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

For instance, while the Pacific Northwest is likely to see more intense winter storms, summer thunderstorms will probably not increase in intensity, he said.

The New York Times - Science

This grander structure reflected a steady increase in intensity.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

There can be an increase in intensity in emotions.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That will increase in intensity as we get closer to the Games.

The Guardian - Sport

Vocalizations of the owlets in the nest rapidly increase in intensity, loudness, pitch, and character.

Cornell University

On Wednesday, some 70 rockets hit Israel over 24 hours, in a distinct increase in intensity.

The New York Times

* Snow will tend to increase in intensity overnight with falling temperatures to around freezing.

The Washington Post

This type of radiation is particularly harmful and, during solar flares, can increase in intensity by many thousands of times.

The Guardian

As migrant communities grow and fan out, this is an issue that will increase in intensity for the Tories.

The Guardian - Opinion

In an atomic bomb the chain reaction is designed to increase in intensity until much of the material has fissioned.

Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Contrastingly, correlations at 3.45 and 5.32 Å increase in intensity.

Geochemical Transactions

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific reporting, pair it with specific metrics to provide a clearer picture of what exactly is intensifying.

Common error

Do not use "increase in intensity" when you actually mean something is happening more often. Intensity refers to how strong a single event is, whereas frequency refers to how many times it occurs over a period.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increase in intensity" functions as a complex noun phrase. It is typically composed of the noun "increase" acting as the head, followed by a prepositional phrase that specifies the quality being measured. According to Ludwig, it is frequently used to track changes in state across physical and social sciences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "increase in intensity" is a highly reliable and versatile linguistic tool. Ludwig AI confirms that it is universally accepted in formal and professional English, appearing frequently in high-authority sources such as The New York Times and various scientific publications. It effectively bridges the gap between technical observation and general description, allowing writers to articulate a rise in strength or severity with precision. Whether you are describing a meteorological event, a physiological symptom or a social trend, this phrase remains a standard choice for indicating growth in magnitude.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intensify

Uses a more concise verb form to convey the action directly

escalate in severity

Focuses specifically on the negative or serious nature of the change

grow in strength

Emphasizes the physical or structural power behind the change

heighten in degree

Suggests a shift along a measurable scale or level

rise in magnitude

Common in scientific contexts to describe scale or size increases

gain in momentum

Adds a sense of speed and forward motion to the intensification

mount in pressure

Specifically refers to psychological or physical stress increasing

step up in power

Uses a more active, almost mechanical phrasing for the increase

sharpen in focus

Implies an increase in clarity alongside intensity

deepen in complexity

Suggests that the increase involves more layers or nuance

FAQs

How to use "increase in intensity" in a sentence?

You can use it as the subject or object of a sentence, such as: "The winds began to increase in intensity as the hurricane approached."

What can I say instead of "increase in intensity"?

You can use alternatives like "intensify", "grow stronger" or "escalate" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "intensify" or "increase in intensity"?

The verb "intensify" is more concise, but the noun phrase is often preferred in formal reports to describe a specific trend or observable phenomenon.

What is the opposite of an "increase in intensity"?

The most common antonym is a "decrease in intensity" or "subside".