intent

¹in·tent

noun \in-ˈtent\

Definition of INTENT

1

a : the act or fact of intending : purpose; especially : the design or purpose to commit a wrongful or criminal act <admitted wounding him with intent>

b : the state of mind with which an act is done : volition

2

: a usually clearly formulated or planned intention : aim <the director's intent>

3

a : meaning, significance

b : connotation 3

Examples of INTENT

1. She thinks I'm trying to make things difficult for her, but that's not my intent.
2. What was the the writer's intent?
3. The intent of the law is to protect consumers.
4. He was charged with assault with intent to kill.

Origin of INTENT

Middle English entente, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin intentus, from Latin, act of stretching out, from intendere

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to INTENT

Synonyms

aim, ambition, aspiration, bourne (also bourn), design, dream, end, idea, ideal, goal, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, plan, point, pretension, purpose, target, thing

Related Words

grail, holy grail; plot, project, scheme; desire, hope, mind, wish; nirvana; destination, terminus

Near Antonyms

means, method, way

See Synonym Discussion at intention

Rhymes with INTENT

absent, accent, Advent, anent, ascent, assent, augment, besprent, cement, comment, consent, content, convent, descent, detent, dissent, docent, event, extent, ferment, foment, fragment, frequent, hell-bent, indent, invent, lament, loment, low-rent, mordent, outspent, percent, pigment, portent, present, prevent, pup tent, quitrent, rack-rent, relent, repent, resent, segment, Shymkent, Tashkent, torment, well-meant, wisent

²intent

adjective

Definition of INTENT

1

: directed with strained or eager attention : concentrated

2

: having the mind, attention, or will concentrated on something or some end or purpose <intent on their work>

— in·tent·ly adverb

— in·tent·ness noun

Examples of INTENT

1. <intent on finishing her sculpture in time for the group show>
2. <he was so intent on his work that he didn't hear the dog bark>

Origin of INTENT

Latin intentus, from past participle of intendere

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to INTENT

Synonyms

bent (on or upon), bound, decisive, do-or-die, firm, hell-bent (on or upon), determined, out, purposeful, resolute, resolved, set, single-minded

Antonyms

faltering, hesitant, indecisive, irresolute, undetermined, unresolved, vacillating, wavering, weak-kneed

Related Words

bitter, vehement; certain, cocksure, confident, positive, sure; earnest, serious; steady, unfaltering, unhesitating, unswerving, unwavering; adamant, adamantine, dogged, hard, hardened, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inflexible, mulish, obdurate, persistent, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, tenacious, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful (or wilful)

Near Antonyms

distrustful, doubtful, dubious, mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, unsettled, unsure; disinclined, indisposed, loath (also loth or loathe), reluctant