intent

[ in-tent ]

/ ɪnˈtɛnt /

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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.

OTHER WORDS FOR intent

2 aim, plan, plot.

See synonyms for intent on Thesaurus.com

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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

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

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use intent in a sentence

In a statement Thursday evening, Toomey said Congress’s intent with the Cares Act made clear the programs were meant to be temporary.
Treasury Secretary Mnuchin cuts off several Federal Reserve emergency aid programs, sparking unusual rebuke from Fed|Rachel Siegel, Jeff Stein|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Chairman Ajit Pai wrote in a statement Wednesday that “one would have to be rather naïve to think that this was not done with the intent to cause harm,” and pointed to angry complaints the actual owner of the phone number received.
Morning Report: County Digs in to Keep COVID Data Private|Voice of San Diego|November 19, 2020|Voice of San Diego
The technology is there to understand what the consumer’s intent is and how to fulfill that.
Shoppers are panic-buying toilet paper. This time, there should be enough to go around.|Laura Reiley, Abha Bhattarai|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
While we’ve made some changes, our core driving mantra has always been to preserve the spirit and intent of the original creators.
‘Demon’s Souls’ devs considered, and ultimately left out, an easy mode. Here’s why.|Elise Favis|November 18, 2020|Washington Post

Since they were no longer in custody, Border Patrol began attending their court hearings, with the intent of arresting them at the conclusion of their hearings and deport them, according to the court order.
Judge Bars Immigration Arrests at San Diego’s Federal Courthouse|Maya Srikrishnan|November 18, 2020|Voice of San Diego
"Yes," said Maud Barrington, noticing the sudden intentness of his pallid face.
Winston of the Prairie|Harold Bindloss
It seized with intentness on each thing in turn, which was part of his life at the moment, and gave it an abnormal significance.
You Never Know Your Luck, Complete|Gilbert Parker
Meg, the fortune-teller, remained where he had left her several moments watching him with a strange, catlike intentness.
They Looked and Loved|Mrs. Alex McVeigh Miller
And why did that Malay waiting at table stare with such disagreeable intentness at him, Fabio?
Dream Tales and Prose Poems|Ivan Turgenev
He ate with relish, the guard watching him in the meantime with cat-like intentness and holding his spear in instant readiness.
The Argus Pheasant|John Charles Beecham

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

OTHER WORDS FOR intent

Idioms about intent

Origin of intent

synonym study for intent

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH 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