intent

1
[ in-tent ]
See synonyms for: intentintentsintentlyintentness on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. something that is planned, proposed, or intended; purpose; design; intention: The original intent of the committee was to raise funds.

  2. the act or fact of intending, as to do something: Any identified individual found to have violated this rule with intent will be suspended from all participation in the forum.

  1. Law. the state of a person's mind that directs their actions toward a specific object: He was arrested for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

  2. meaning or significance.

Idioms about intent

  1. to / for all intents and purposes, for all practical purposes; practically speaking; virtually: The book is, to all intents and purposes, a duplication of earlier efforts.

Origin of intent

1
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Late Latin intentus “an aim, purpose,” from Latin intentus “a stretching out,” equivalent to inten(dere) + -tus suffix of verbal action; replacing Middle English entent(e), from Old French, from Late Latin, as above; see intend

synonym study For intent

1. See intention.

Other words for intent

Words that may be confused with intent

Other definitions for intent (2 of 2)

intent2
[ in-tent ]

adjective
  1. firmly or steadfastly fixed or directed, as the eyes or mind: an intent gaze.

  2. having the attention sharply focused or fixed on something: intent on one's job.

  1. determined or resolved; having the mind or will fixed on some goal: intent on revenge.

  2. earnest; intense: an intent person.

Origin of intent

2
First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin intentus “taut, intent,” past participle of intendere “to aim at” (see intend); cf. intense

Other words for intent

Opposites for intent

Other words from intent

  • in·tent·ly, adverb
  • in·tent·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use intent in a sentence

  • "Yes," said Maud Barrington, noticing the sudden intentness of his pallid face.

    Winston of the Prairie | Harold Bindloss
  • It seized with intentness on each thing in turn, which was part of his life at the moment, and gave it an abnormal significance.

  • Meg, the fortune-teller, remained where he had left her several moments watching him with a strange, catlike intentness.

    They Looked and Loved | Mrs. Alex McVeigh Miller
  • And why did that Malay waiting at table stare with such disagreeable intentness at him, Fabio?

  • He ate with relish, the guard watching him in the meantime with cat-like intentness and holding his spear in instant readiness.

    The Argus Pheasant | John Charles Beecham

British Dictionary definitions for intent

intent

/ (ɪnˈtɛnt) /


noun
  1. something that is intended; aim; purpose; design

  2. the act of intending

  1. law the will or purpose with which one does an act

  2. implicit meaning; connotation

  3. to all intents and purposes for all practical purposes; virtually

adjective
  1. firmly fixed; determined; concentrated: an intent look

  2. (postpositive; usually foll by on or upon) having the fixed intention (of); directing one's mind or energy (to): intent on committing a crime

Origin of intent

1
C13 (in the sense: intention): from Late Latin intentus aim, intent, from Latin: a stretching out; see intend

Derived forms of intent

  • intently, adverb
  • intentness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with intent

intent

see to all intents and purposes.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.