intent

1 of 2

noun

in·​tent in-ˈtent 

1

: a usually clearly formulated or planned intention : aim

the director's intent

2

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

3

a

: meaning, significance

b

: connotation sense 3

intent

2 of 2

adjective

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

intentness noun

Synonyms

Noun

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

Adjective

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

Choose the Right Synonym for intent

intention, intent, purpose, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal mean what one intends to accomplish or attain.

intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.

announced his intention to marry

intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness.

the clear intent of the statute

purpose suggests a more settled determination.

being successful was her purpose in life

design implies a more carefully calculated plan.

the order of events came by accident, not design

aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing.

her aim was to raise film to an art form

end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such.

willing to use any means to achieve his end

object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need.

his constant object was the achievement of pleasure

objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable.

their objective is to seize the oil fields

goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.

worked years to reach her goals

Examples of intent in a Sentence

Noun

She thinks I'm trying to make things difficult for her, but that's not my intent.

The intent of the law is to protect consumers.

He was charged with assault with intent to kill.

Adjective

intent on finishing her sculpture in time for the group show

he was so intent on his work that he didn't hear the dog bark

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The companies said their pricing was based on demand patterns and not with any intent to discriminate. —Lydia Depillis Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024

And even as Netanyahu faces a slew of political headwinds, none of the members of that governing coalition, or of his own party, have indicated any serious intent of leaving the government and triggering its collapse. —Jeremy Diamond, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

His kitchen has been in Gaza since March, with the intent to bring food aid to starving people in northern Gaza via a maritime corridor from Cyprus. —Sunny Nagpaul, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024

The state retirement fund made public its intent to sell the property in April 2022, The Sacramento Bee first reported. —Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024

Police said he was charged with assault on a police officer, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm and ammunition, and possession with intent to distribute drugs. —Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024

Typically, a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, is formed with the intent to merge with a private company before it becomes publicly traded — in this instance, Trump Media, which owns Truth Social. —Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024

Beyoncé hasn’t, and likely won’t speak on the cover’s intent, allowing for a cacophony of dissenting opinion that highlights the peril of mystery. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024

Gagne said her intent was to protect the privacy of characters by not naming them, noting the flashes of criminality described in her story. —Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024

Adjective

So, unfortunately, is the Klan, which is intent on wresting control of the city from its people and putting it under white, capitalist authority. —The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024

At first, Hassan appears to be intent on killing Charly to get his revenge. —Megan McCluskey, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024

Harvey said prosecutors will show the jury secret communications between anti-fascists from San Diego and Los Angeles that prove the defendants were always intent on committing violence against peaceful, patriotic protestors. —Will Carless, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024

Blackburn was intent on delivering that victory, exiting with a 3-0 lead. —Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2024

As her fame grew, Holiday would face more than the prejudices of the day — federal and local government agencies were intent on diminishing her stature as a public figure. —Paul Alexander, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024

Those rewards are among the most generous in the industry, and signify that the company is intent on becoming a significant player in credit card sector as part of a larger push to offer a full suite of financial services, including retirement accounts. —Bill Hardekopf, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Some see a reactionary nation intent on ignoring how large-scale immigration, particularly from North Africa, has enriched the country hosting the 33rd Summer Olympics of modern times. —Aurelien Breeden, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2024

After a hideous slaughter in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin is still intent on pointing the finger at Kyiv. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Adjective

Latin intentus, from past participle of intendere

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing intent

• intent on/upon (something)
• letter of intent

Kids Definition

intent

1 of 2 noun

in·​tent in-ˈtent 

1

: purpose sense 1, intention

with intent to injure

2

: meaning entry 1 sense 1a

the intent of the law

intent

2 of 2 adjective

1

: directed with strained or eager attention

an intent gaze

2

a

: having the mind, attention, or will concentrated on something

b

: set on some end or purpose

intent on going

intently adverb

intentness noun

Legal Definition

intent

noun

in·​tent in-ˈtent 

1

: the act or fact of intending: as

a

: the design or purpose to commit a wrongful or criminal act

called also criminal intent

compare knowledge, mens rea, motive, negligence

b

: the purpose to commit a tortious act having consequences that the actor desires and believes or knows will occur

— constructive intent

: intent that is inferred to exist (as from willfulness or recklessness) in relation to an act

— criminal intent

: intent sense 1a

— general intent

: intent to perform an illegal act without the desire for further consequences or a precise result

there was a general intent to assault but not to kill

— specific intent

: intent to perform an illegal act with the knowledge or purpose that particular results will or may ensue

assaulted him with specific intent to kill

— transferred intent

: intent attributed to a person who intends to cause another harm when the harm is accidentally inflicted on an unintended victim

: a doctrine in tort and criminal law: a wrongdoer who causes harm to a person other than the one intended may nevertheless be held to have intended the harmful result

2

a

: intendment see also legislative intent

b

: the purpose of a document (as a contract or will)

c

: the aim or goal of a person in creating a document or taking an action

the court's attempt to fulfill the donor's intent

the intent of the contracting parties implied by their language

see also original intent