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

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 ]

/ ɪnˈtɛnt /

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

OPPOSITES FOR intent

3 irresolute, indecisive, undecided, vacillating.

See antonyms for intent on Thesaurus.com

Origin of intent

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

How to use intent in a sentence

Both firms extensively invest in Opportunity Zone businesses that hold to the original intent of the OZ legislation.
Opportunity Zones haven’t fully reached their potential, but don’t write them off yet|jakemeth|September 16, 2020|Fortune
Whatever you do, don’t call Red Ventures an intent media company.
‘Helping people discover information’: How Red Ventures grew into a giant|Max Willens|September 16, 2020|Digiday
The post Google custom audiences, the combo of custom affinity and custom intent audiences, now live appeared first on Search Engine Land.
Google custom audiences, the combo of custom affinity and custom intent audiences, now live|Ginny Marvin|September 14, 2020|Search Engine Land
Any existing custom intent or custom affinity audiences you have will automatically be migrated into custom audiences.
Google custom audiences, the combo of custom affinity and custom intent audiences, now live|Ginny Marvin|September 14, 2020|Search Engine Land

Moreover, Derrida argues, since all we have access to is the signifier, for all intents and purposes, the signified does not really exist.
The true love story in Elif Batuman’s The Idiot is a love affair with language|Constance Grady|September 11, 2020|Vox
Submission is set in a France seven years from now that is dominated by a Muslim president intent on imposing Islamic law.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President|Pierre Assouline|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Some brought rocks and bricks, intent on clashing with the police.
St. Louis Shooting Is the Anti-Ferguson|Justin Glawe|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A twinned, imagined narrative of a fictitious Fidel Castro and a Miami exile intent on assassinating him.
Book Bag: Great Books About Cuba|Julia Cooke|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The details differ but the intent is the same as in a high-profile case of police brutality.
‘Rectal Feeding’ Has Nothing to Do with Nutrition, Everything to Do with Torture|Russell Saunders|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Men and women of good intent who simply seek “the truth” upon which to base their opinions find themselves awash in folderol.
The Facts About Ferguson Matter, Dammit|Doug McIntyre|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This seems to be contrary to the spirit and intent of the act, which is primarily to centralize reserves in Federal Reserve Banks.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
He was a good judge of men, that eagle-faced major; he knew that the slightest move with hostile intent would mean a smoking gun.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
It was theatrical: he stood upon the stage, an audience watching him with intent expectancy, wondering upon his decision.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
She knew that Alessandro had no knife, and had gone forward with no hostile intent; but she knew nothing beyond that.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
She was too intent upon studying his own to hide them, and upon arriving at a final conclusion.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton

British Dictionary definitions for intent

intent

/ (ɪnˈtɛnt) /

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

to all intents and purposes for all practical purposes; virtually

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.

intent

Definition of intent

OTHER WORDS FOR intent

Idioms about intent

Origin of intent

synonym study for intent

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH intent

Words nearby intent

Other definitions for intent (2 of 2)

OTHER WORDS FOR intent

OPPOSITES FOR intent

Origin of intent

OTHER WORDS FROM intent

Words related to intent

How to use intent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for intent

Derived forms of intent

Word Origin for intent

Other Idioms and Phrases with intent