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.
Three hours into her third hospital visit, the mother of six began seizing and was transferred unresponsive to the hospital’s intensive care unit. Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 10 July 2025 Research Medical Center in Kansas City will end its obstetrics program and close its neonatal intensive care unit this fall, hospital leadership announced in a statement this week. Kansas City Star, 10 July 2025 Hoffman spent three weeks in an intensive care unit after he and his wife Yvette Hoffman were attacked by a gunman in their home in Champlin around 2 a.m. local time on June 14. Angel Saunders, People.com, 9 July 2025 Hoffman was released from a hospital intensive care unit and moved to a rehabilitation facility on July 7, family spokesperson Bess Ellenson confirmed to USA TODAY on July 9. Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 9 July 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intensive care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intensive%20care. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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