intact
intact — adjective
1. remaining in the condition something was originally in, with nothing taken away,
remaining in the condition something was originally in, with nothing taken away, changed, or broken off.
Élise was amazed to find the old kitchen still intact behind a modern wall.
still intact — unchanged state after time
The museum curator kept the ancient jewellery intact inside a glass case.
keep + noun + intact — preserving original condition
Nadia discovered a 19th-century dress still intact in her grandmother's wardrobe.
Karim checked that every page of the old map was intact before selling it.
- whole
more everyday word; 'whole' does not imply an original state — a whole cake is simply not cut.
- untouched
suggests nothing has interfered with or altered something; stronger sense of preservation than 'intact'.
- unspoiled
positive connotation, often used for natural landscapes or food; less factual than 'intact'.
- incomplete
lacking one or more parts
- altered
changed from the original in some way
文法句型
remain intact
keep + noun + intact
survive intact
用法筆記
Unlike 'complete', 'intact' emphasises that nothing has been removed or altered from the original. It is typically used after linking verbs such as 'remain', 'stay', and 'keep'.
常見錯誤
2. not broken, harmed, or ruined after being in a dangerous or destructive situatio
not broken, harmed, or ruined after being in a dangerous or destructive situation.
The old church survived the earthquake intact while the houses around it collapsed.
survive + intact — enduring a disaster without damage
Christopher dropped his phone on the stone floor, but the screen was still intact.
Beatriz was relieved that her passport emerged intact from the flooded bag.
Joon inspected the eggs carefully — every single one was still intact after the fall.
The garden fence remained intact despite the strong winds last night.
- undamaged
more concrete and specific to physical harm; 'undamaged' focuses on absence of dents, cracks, or breaks.
- unharmed
mainly for living things (people, animals); 'unharmed' emphasises personal safety.
- unscathed
more dramatic register — suggests surviving something that normally causes harm; 'she walked away unscathed'.
文法句型
survive + noun + intact
emerge intact
escape intact
remain intact
用法筆記
Frequently appears after verbs that describe surviving or escaping a threat: 'survive intact', 'escape intact', 'emerge intact'. The subject is typically an object, building, or area that has gone through a dangerous event.
常見錯誤
3. (of a male animal) still possessing its reproductive organs; not neutered, castr
(of a male animal) still possessing its reproductive organs; not neutered, castrated, or spayed.
The veterinarian advised Baraka to keep his intact male cat indoors.
intact + male + [animal] — describing reproductive status
Ilan asked the farmer whether the prize bull was still intact.
The rescue shelter charges a higher fee for adopting an intact dog.
Nellie's neighbours complained that her intact rooster crowed every morning at dawn.
- unneutered
more direct everyday term; less formal than 'intact'.
- entire
technical term used mainly by breeders and vets in British English.
文法句型
intact + male + animal
still intact (of an animal)
用法筆記
Used mainly by veterinarians, breeders, and animal welfare workers. In everyday conversation, 'not neutered' or 'not fixed' is more common. For female animals, the equivalent term is 'unspayed'.