intent
1 Americannoun
-
intents
plural
-
something that someone is intending or meaning to do or achieve; purpose or objective.
The committee's original intent was to raise funds.
-
the act or fact of meaning to do something.
Any identified individual found to have violated this rule with intent will be suspended from all participation in the forum.
-
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.
-
the meaning or significance of something said, written, or done.
I think this summary captures the intent of her lengthy speech.
It’s difficult to understand the intent of your actions—please explain.
idioms
adjective
-
firmly or steadfastly fixed or directed, as the eyes or mind.
an intent gaze.
- Synonyms:
- concentrated
-
having the attention sharply focused or fixed on something.
intent on one's job.
- Synonyms:
- concentrated
-
determined or resolved; having the mind or will fixed on some goal.
intent on revenge.
- Antonyms:
- vacillating, undecided, indecisive, irresolute
-
an intent person.
noun
-
something that is intended; aim; purpose; design
-
the act of intending
-
law the will or purpose with which one does an act
-
implicit meaning; connotation
-
for all practical purposes; virtually
adjective
-
firmly fixed; determined; concentrated
an 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
Synonym Usage
See intention.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of intent1
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
Origin of intent2
First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin intentus “taut, intent,” past participle of intendere “to aim at” ( see intend); cf. intense
Explanation
If you are intent on doing something, you are determined to get it done. If you have an intent, you have a motive or purpose. Intention and intent are synonyms, but with a subtle difference. Intention implies a general desire or plan to accomplish something, while intent is a little stronger, indicating a firm resolve to get it done. Intent can be used as a noun or adjective. So you may be intent on finishing your homework, but the amount of it has you convinced of your teacher's ill intent.
Vocabulary lists containing intent
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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19th Amendment (1920)
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"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act V
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Seoul's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun tried to paint the decision as one of mutual agreement, but admitted officials did not know of Trump's intent to scale down the exercise in advance.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
“If the intent was not financial gain by depriving others, then it’s almost certainly not illegal — although not everything that is a big problem is illegal,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
"While these are merely requests and do not imply that visitors will be forcibly asked to leave, we earnestly ask for your understanding of the intent behind these guidelines and your cooperation," its statement said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
“What the company has indicated is its intent to open discussions with another firm” about a sale, Payne said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
She found in the outer court a beautiful lad in priestly attire intent on purifying the sacred place with water from a golden vessel, singing as he worked a hymn of praise to the god.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Yet David craves Monica’s maternal affection as if he were real — and for all intents and purposes, he is.
From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026
“The consumer, for all intents and purposes, pays the tariff,” it added.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 12, 2026
Hulu, for all intents and purposes, will exist only in ghost form.
From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2025
“While you can claim that the comments by the vice mayor doesn’t represent the city of Cudahy, for all intents and purposes, it really does,” said Brian Heyman, of Downey.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2025
He was forty, out of baseball, and, for all intents and purposes, out of life.
From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
