The '[Intensifies]' meme is a versatile format that uses bracketed text to indicate an escalating emotional state or physical action, typically paired with a vibrating or shaky image. It originated on Tumblr around 2012 with the phrase '[HEAVY BREATHING INTENSIFIES]' overlaid on an image of a cat. Since then, the format has evolved into a universal shorthand for extreme reactions, ranging from excitement and hunger to anxiety and rage. It is frequently used in reaction images to mock over-the-top responses or to highlight the absurdity of a situation by suggesting it is becoming uncontrollably intense.