intently

American  

[in-tent-lee] / ɪnˈtɛnt li /

adverb

1. in a firmly or steadfastly fixed or directed way, as with the eyes, ears, or mind.

   She sat there rapt, leaning on her elbows on the table, listening intently to us.

2. in a fully engaged or determined way that shows strength of purpose.

   I know that many others have been working on their versions of the project far more intently—and coherently—than I.

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Etymology

Origin of intently

intent ² ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

If you're studying something intently, you're probably leaning forward and you're oblivious to whatever is going on around you. Your attention is focused like a laser. If you're gazing intently into someone's eyes, you're hanging on to every blink of the eye, every nuance of expression. Maybe you're in love. When you do something intently, you do it with intensity. It's not a coincidence that intently sounds a lot like intensity, as they both come from the Latin intendere, made up of in- ("toward") and tendere ("stretch"). So when you're listening intently to a Bartók string quartet, you're stretching and straining to hear every note.

Example Sentences

For as long as people have been solving math problems, the approach has been like a laser: focus intently on one problem and get as far as you can on it.

From Slate • Jun. 22, 2026

But Carlos Dibus, one of millions of Cubans who have fled abroad, was listening intently.

From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026

Saar took to the stage amid a resounding standing ovation, and when she spoke, the crowd’s gaze remained intently on her.

From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2026

Roxanne and Jeremy nodded along with me, listening intently.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

She’d been watching Ekon so intently that she’d almost forgotten about the figure standing a few feet from him.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Related Words

• attentively
• closely
• keenly