intransitive Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a verb (or verb construction) that does not take an object
    intransitive verb; intransitive verb form.
  2. adjective designating a verb that does not require or cannot take a direct object

WordNet

In*tran"si*tive adjective
Etymology
L. intransitivus: cf. F. intransitif. See In- not, and Transitive.
Definitions
  1. Not passing farther; kept; detained. R.
    And then it is for the image's sake and so far is intransitive; but whatever is paid more to the image is transitive and passes further. Jer. Taylor.
  2. (Gram.) Not transitive; not passing over t an object; expressing an action or state that is limited to the agent or subject, or, in other words, an action which does not require an object to complete the sense; as, an intransitive verb, e. g., the bird flies; the dog runs. ✍ Intransitive verbs have no passive form. Some verbs which appear at first sight to be intransitive are in reality, or were originally, transitive verbs with a reflexive or other object omitted; as, he keeps (i. e., himself) aloof from danger. Intransitive verbs may take a noun of kindred signification for a cognate object; as, he died the death of a hero; he dreamed a dream. Some intransitive verbs, by the addition of a preposition, become transitive, and so admit of a passive voice; as, the man laughed at; he was laughed at by the man.

Webster 1913