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intent

1
[ in-tent ]
/ ÉȘnˈtɛnt /
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See synonyms for: intent / intents / intently / intentness on Thesaurus.com
noun
something that is intended; purpose; design; intention: The original intent of the committee was to raise funds.
the act or fact of intending, as to do something: criminal intent.
Law. the state of a person's mind that directs his or her actions toward a specific object.
meaning or significance.
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Idioms about intent

    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.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH intent

intense, intents

Words nearby intent

intensitometer, intensity, intensive, intensive care, intensive care unit, intent, intention, intentional, intentional community, intentional fallacy, intentional foul

Other definitions for intent (2 of 2)

intent2
[ in-tent ]
/ ÉȘnˈtɛnt /
adjective
firmly or steadfastly fixed or directed, as the eyes or mind: an intent gaze.
having the attention sharply focused or fixed on something: intent on one's job.
determined or resolved; having the mind or will fixed on some goal: intent on revenge.
earnest; intense: an intent person.

OTHER WORDS FOR intent

1, 2 concentrated.
3 resolute, set.
See synonyms for intent on Thesaurus.com

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 FROM intent

in·tent·ly, adverbin·tent·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to intent

decided, hell-bent, preoccupied, resolved, alert, attending, bent, bound, deep, eager, earnest, firm, set, steady, watching, absorbed, attentive, committed, concentrated, decisive

How to use intent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for intent

intent
/ (ÉȘnˈtɛnt) /
noun
adjective
firmly fixed; determined; concentratedan intent look
(postpositive; usually foll by on or upon) having the fixed intention (of); directing one's mind or energy (to)intent on committing a crime

Derived forms of intent

intently, adverbintentness, noun

Word Origin for intent

C13 (in the sense: intention): from Late Latin intentus aim, intent, from Latin: a stretching out; see intend
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 HeritageŸ Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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