sensitise
sensitise — verb
- sensitisepresent simple I / you / we / they
- sensitises3rd person singular
- sensitising-ing form
- sensitisedpast simple
1. to cause a person, animal, or biological system to become more reactive to a par
to cause a person, animal, or biological system to become more reactive to a particular substance, physical condition, or type of experience than it was before
Repeated falls on the ice sensitised the horse to any slippery surface beneath its feet.
active: sensitise + [organism] + to + [stimulus]
Years of harsh chemicals sensitised Dario's skin, so even mild soap now burned his hands.
sensitise + body part + to [substance]
The rescue dog's hearing was sensitised by years of listening for sounds under the rubble.
Shanti's therapist said the trauma might have sensitised her nervous system to loud noises.
The fungus exposure sensitised the laboratory mice, and they reacted with a strong allergic response.
- hypersensitise
stronger — implies an extreme or excessive reaction; more technical
- render susceptible
more formal and clinical; used mainly in medical reports
- prime
broader — can mean preparing a system to respond, not only to a negative stimulus
- desensitise
the opposite process — making someone or something less reactive to a stimulus
文法句型
sensitise + person/body/animal + to + stimulus
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice (be/get sensitised to something). This sense frequently appears in medical, veterinary, and psychological writing about how the body or mind becomes more responsive after repeated contact with a trigger.
常見錯誤
2. to help a person or group become more aware of a problem, difficult situation, o
to help a person or group become more aware of a problem, difficult situation, or injustice so that they understand its seriousness and their own connection to it
A short film about ocean pollution sensitised children to the damage from plastic waste.
sensitise + [person] + to + [issue]
Community leaders held meetings to sensitise residents to the needs of elderly neighbours living alone.
Volunteering at a refugee centre sensitised Ife to the daily struggles of asylum seekers.
The campaign aims to sensitise young people to how social media affects their mental health.
Asher had never considered food waste until a school project sensitised him to it.
- raise awareness among
more common and less formal; 'sensitise' suggests a deeper emotional shift
- educate about
broader — focuses on knowledge; 'sensitise' emphasises empathy and understanding
- alert to
sudden or urgent; 'sensitise' is gradual and process-oriented
- desensitise
opposite process — making someone less emotionally affected by a troubling issue
- numb to
informal; suggests emotional indifference rather than lack of awareness
文法句型
sensitise + person/group + to + issue/problem
用法筆記
The object of the preposition 'to' is usually an abstract noun naming a problem, injustice, or need (e.g., issues, difficulties, challenges, conditions). The subject is typically a campaign, programme, experience, or educational effort. This sense is rarely used for simple factual information — it implies a shift in the person's emotional understanding, not just their knowledge.