intensive care

noun

1
: the continuous monitoring and treatment of critically ill or injured patients using special medical facilities, equipment, and services
Many of the sickest patients need intensive care, even to the point of being connected to a mechanical respirator.—Lawrence K. Altman
2
: a designated area in a hospital providing intensive care : intensive care unit
heart patients in intensive care
… short of breath and feverish, doctors isolated him in intensive care.—Elisabeth Rosenthal
—often hyphenated when used before another noun
an intensive-care nurse

Examples of intensive care in a Sentence

Her condition will require intensive care.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Plans call for 24-hour emergency care, Level III trauma services, obstetrics, neonatal intensive care, adult critical care, advanced imaging and cardiac catheterization. — Jamal Goss, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026 During the three weeks that the 27-year-old Ramadhan was in intensive care, Kazungu said nurses kept asking her to buy more, still with no word of Ramadhan's condition. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026 Many health systems have started to adopt social prescribing not only as a complement to medical treatment, but as a preventative approach to reduce the need for more intensive care. — Grant Oliphant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Evans, 66, has worked as a nurse in the intensive care unit and credits her profession for keeping her focused under pressure. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for intensive care

Word History

First Known Use

1954, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of intensive care was in 1954

Rhymes for intensive care

See All Rhymes for intensive care

Browse Nearby Words

intensive
intensive care
intensive care unit
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intensive care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intensive%20care. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

intensive care

noun
: continuous monitoring and treatment of seriously ill patients using special medical equipment and services
also : a unit in a hospital providing intensive care

Medical Definition

intensive care

1 of 2 noun
1
: the continuous monitoring and treatment of critically ill or injured patients using special medical facilities, equipment, and services
She required intensive care and survived without sequelae.—The Journal of the American Medical Association
2
: a designated area in a hospital providing intensive care : intensive care unit
heart patients in intensive care
a patient isolated in intensive care
He spent several days in intensive care before recovering from the overdose.—Jerome Groopman

intensive care

2 of 2 adjective
variants also intensive-care
: providing or concerned with continuous monitoring and treatment of critically ill or injured patients using special medical facilities, equipment, and services
intensive care medicine
an intensive-care nurse
also : receiving medical care in an intensive care unit
intensive care patients
compare acute care, chronic care

More from Merriam-Webster on intensive care

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about intensive care

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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