Extensive vs. Intensive — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 25, 2023
Extensive relates to "amount or size," while Intensive pertains to "degree or strength."
Difference Between Extensive and Intensive
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Extensive often pertains to something vast in amount, space, or size. When we talk about "extensive research" or "extensive fields," we refer to the breadth or scope. Intensive, on the other hand, denotes a high degree or intensity. Intensive care or intensive training emphasizes depth, concentration, or severity rather than breadth.
Extensive might be used to describe something that is widespread or covers a large area. For instance, extensive forests span large areas of land. In contrast, Intensive can denote something that is thorough and deep, even if it is constrained to a small area or period. An intensive study session might last just a few hours, but the focus and depth of that study are profound.
While Extensive emphasizes on quantity, expanse, or coverage, Intensive underscores quality, depth, or vigor. An extensive collection of books suggests a vast number of books, while an intensive reading of a book implies a deep and thorough understanding of its content.
Extensive can often be associated with the external or outward aspects of something. An extensive network, for example, implies a widespread and vast connection of nodes. Intensive, in contrast, directs our attention to the inner nature or inherent intensity of something. An intensive emotion isn't necessarily shown outwardly but is deeply felt.
Extensive gives us a sense of spread and expanse, indicating that something spans across a broad spectrum. Intensive, on the other hand, narrows our view to the depth, force, or potency of something, even if its physical manifestation isn't vast.
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Comparison Chart
Relation
Amount or size
Degree or strength
Emphasis
Breadth
Depth
Example Application
Geography (extensive land)
Study (intensive course)
Suggests
Quantity
Quality
Orientation
Outward
Inward
Compare with Definitions
Extensive
Covering a large area.
The extensive grounds of the mansion were breathtaking.
Intensive
Concentrated in force or degree.
The farmer used intensive methods to increase crop yield.
Extensive
Large in number or amount.
He has an extensive collection of vintage cars.
Intensive
Relating to the essence or depth.
She participated in an intensive meditation retreat.
Extensive
Thorough in exploring details.
Her research was extensive, delving into every possible aspect.
Intensive
Demanding deep attention or effort.
He underwent an intensive training regime for the marathon.
Extensive
Broad in application or effect.
The software's extensive features cater to various user needs.
Intensive
Strongly expressive.
Her gaze was intensive, capturing everyone's attention.
Extensive
Wide-ranging in scope.
She has an extensive knowledge of world history.
Intensive
Of, relating to, or characterized by intensity
Intensive training.
Extensive
Having wide extent; of much superficial extent; expanded; large; broad; wide; comprehensive; as, an extensive farm; an extensive lake; an extensive sphere of operations; extensive benevolence; extensive greatness.
Intensive
(Grammar) Tending to emphasize or intensify
An intensive adverb.
Extensive
Large in extent, range, or amount.
Intensive
Possessing or requiring to a high degree. Often used in combination
Labor-intensive.
Extensive
Of or relating to agricultural production that requires large areas of land but minimizes the input of labor or materials.
Intensive
Of or relating to agricultural production that achieves high yields per acre of land but requires significant input of labor or materials.
Extensive
Having a great extent; covering a large area; vast.
Intensive
(Physics) Having the same value for any subdivision of a thermodynamic system
Intensive pressure.
Extensive
(figurative) Considerable in amount.
I have done extensive research on the subject.
Intensive
A linguistic element, such as the adverb extremely or awfully, that provides force or emphasis. Also called intensifier.
Extensive
Serving to extend or lengthen; characterized by extension.
Intensive
Thorough; to a great degree; with intensity.
Extensive
(physics) Having a combined system entropy that equals the sum of the entropies of the independent systems.
Intensive
Demanding; requiring a great amount of work etc.
This job is difficult because it is so labour-intensive.
Extensive
Capable of being extended.
Silver beaters choose the finest coin, as that which is most extensive under the hammer.
Intensive
Highly concentrated.
I took a three-day intensive course in finance.
Extensive
Large in spatial extent or range;
An extensive Roman settlement in northwest England
Extended farm lands
Intensive
(obsolete) Stretched; allowing intension, or increase of degree; that can be intensified.
Extensive
Having broad range or effect;
Had extensive press coverage
Far-reaching changes in the social structure
Sweeping reforms
Intensive
Characterized by persistence; intent; assiduous.
Extensive
Large in number or quantity (especially of discourse);
She took copious notes
Extensive press coverage
A subject of voluminous legislation
Intensive
(grammar) Serving to give force or emphasis.
An intensive verb or preposition
Extensive
Great in range or scope;
An extended vocabulary
Surgeons with extended experience
Extensive examples of picture writing
Suffered extensive damage
A wide selection
Intensive
(medicine) Related to the need to manage life-threatening conditions by means of sophisticated life support and monitoring.
She was moved to the intensive-care unit of the hospital.
Extensive
Of agriculture; increasing productivity by using large areas with minimal outlay and labor;
Producing wheat under extensive conditions
Agriculture of the extensive type
Intensive
(linguistics) A form of a word with a stronger or more forceful sense than the root on which the intensive is built.
Intensive
A course taught intensively.
Intensive
Stretched; admitting of intension, or increase of degree; that can be intensified.
Intensive
Characterized by persistence; intent; unremitted; assiduous; intense.
Intensive
Serving to give force or emphasis; as, an intensive verb or preposition.
Intensive
Designating, or pertaining to, any system of farming or horticulture, usually practiced on small pieces of land, in which the soil is thoroughly worked and fertilized so as to get as much return as possible; - opposed to extensive.
Intensive
That which intensifies or emphasizes; an intensive verb or word.
Intensive
A modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies;
`up' in `finished up' is an intensifier
`honestly' in `I honestly don't know' is an intensifier
Intensive
Characterized by a high degree or intensity; often used as a combining form;
The questioning was intensive
Intensive care
Research-intensive
A labor-intensive industry
Intensive
Tending to give force or emphasis;
An intensive adverb
Intensive
Of agriculture; intended to increase productivity of a fixed area by expending more capital and labor;
Intensive agriculture
Intensive conditions
Intensive
Involving a lot in a short time.
The two-day workshop was intensive, packed with valuable insights.
Common Curiosities
Would "extensive reading" mean reading deeply into a topic?
Not necessarily. It often means reading widely across many subjects.
What does Intensive emphasize?
Intensive emphasizes degree, depth, or strength.
Is "intensive care" about a large care facility?
No, it refers to a high degree of medical attention, not size.
Can I use Extensive to describe a large farm?
Yes, you could say "an extensive farm."
What does Extensive focus on?
Extensive focuses on amount, size, or scope.
Can a small garden be described as Extensive?
Not typically. Extensive usually implies a larger scope or area.
Would "extensive damage" mean severe harm?
It means widespread harm. Severity would be conveyed more by "intensive damage."
Which term relates to outward aspects, Extensive or Intensive?
Extensive often relates to the outward or external aspects.
Is an "intensive course" long in duration?
Not always. It means the course is thorough or rigorous, not necessarily long.
Can I use Extensive to describe someone's vast experience?
Yes, you can refer to someone's "extensive experience" in a field.
Is "intensive training" about a wide range of topics?
It's about depth and rigor, not necessarily range.
Can a short but deep study session be termed Intensive?
Yes, because it emphasizes depth and focus.
Between Extensive and Intensive, which one implies quantity?
Extensive implies quantity or breadth.
Is "intensive labor" about many workers?
No, it refers to hard or strenuous work, not the number of workers.
Can Intensive relate to emotions?
Yes, you can have "intensive feelings" or emotions that are deeply felt.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
