Like most words, it can have different meanings in different contexts. Intimate can be a verb, a noun or an adjective. Verb (transitive)- to tell someone something private or secret, or to hint at or imply something secret or private. Noun - a very close friend Adjective - private, personal, or sexual Also in the phrasal verbs "be intimate" or "get intimate", it can describe engaging in sexual activity. They're usually collocated with the preposition "with."

"What does 'intimate' mean?" "How is it used?" It means private; personal; very close. e.g. - I wouldn't want anybody to read my diary it contains too many intimate details of my life. - There are certain details about my life that I would only want intimate friends to be aware of. This word can also be used as a verb, meaning to suggest something in a discreet way. e.g. - She intimated that she intended to resign from her job.