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

Words Nearby 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

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.