intent

noun in·tent \ in-ˈtent \

|Updated on: 20 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: intent in a Sentence

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

See intent defined for English-language learners

See intent defined for kids

Examples of intent in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of intent from the Web

Tough talk from President Donald Trump and his deputies has made clear the United States is intent on waging economic warfare on Iran, European officials and experts said.

— NBC News, "U.S. refuses European requests for exemptions from its new sanctions on Iran," 14 July 2018
Publishers questioned the business value of Franklin, and lost the patriotic intent that had inspired their support for Franklin early in the Cold War.

— amanda laugesen, Smithsonian, "This Cold War-Era Publishing House Wanted To Share American Values With the World," 13 July 2018
But someone could challenge whether the group’s texts show an intent to defraud the recipient of something valuable.

— maureen groppe, USA TODAY, "How unsolicited text messages were sent to Hoosiers to put pressure on Sen. Joe Donnelly," 13 July 2018
But someone could challenge whether the group’s texts show an intent to defraud the recipient of something valuable.

— maureen groppe, Indianapolis Star, "How unsolicited text messages were sent to Hoosiers to put pressure on Sen. Joe Donnelly," 13 July 2018
Unlike so many other recent blockbusters intent on tapping into the current political climate for inspo, Fallout remains true to its roots.

— refinery29.com, "Mission Impossible: Fallout Is As Wild & Fun As Henry Cavill's Mustache," 12 July 2018
Now, the risk of revisiting that trauma by publicizing the list’s names threatens to wreak havoc on Latvian society, as well as the future of Latvian democracy – which some worry may have been the Soviets’ intent in the first place.

— gordon f. sander, The Christian Science Monitor, "Why a nearly 30-year-old list of names is roiling modern Latvia," 12 July 2018
Any ballots on which there is disagreement or a question about the voter’s intent will be brought to the Baltimore County Board of Elections, which will make a final decision.

— pamela wood, baltimoresun.com, "Recount of 85,000 ballots in Baltimore County executive primary begins Thursday," 12 July 2018
This is the heart of trolling, especially when it’s built around the intent to terrorize.

— film crit hulk, The Verge, "Don’t feed the trolls, and other hideous lies," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'intent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of intent

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

intent Synonyms

Synonyms

content, denotation, drift, import, intention, meaning, purport, sense, significance, signification;

Related Words

connotation;

clue, cue, hint, implication, indication, inkling, intimation, suggestion;

message, tenor, theme;

bottom, essence, essentiality, nature, soul, spirit, stuff;

acceptance, acceptation, definition;

burden, crux, gist;

core, heart, kernel, marrow, nub, nucleus, pith, point, quick;

Synonym Discussion of 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

intent

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

—

intently

adverb

—

intentness

noun

See intent defined for English-language learners

Examples of intent in a Sentence

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 of intent from the Web

Unfortunately, Wawa now seems intent on making its presence on the waterfront a permanent thing.

— inga saffron, Philly.com, "Let's not welcome a Wawa on Philadelphia's Delaware waterfront | Inga Saffron," 4 July 2018
Get our daily newsletter The authorities seem intent on maintaining the new demography.

— The Economist, "How a victorious Bashar al-Assad is changing Syria," 28 June 2018
At first, Tyler seems intent on causing destruction, and even points what looks like an AR-15 inches from Clay’s chest, ordering him to go home.

— de elizabeth, Teen Vogue, ""13 Reasons Why" Season 2's School Shooting Plot Presents a Dangerous "What If?"," 21 May 2018
Government agencies whose regulations don’t seem intent on helping the drive-in’s survival.

— chris kaltenbach, baltimoresun.com, "Best of Baltimore — how they do it: D. Vogel and Bengies drive-in, best holdout," 11 Apr. 2018
Fortunately a few years ago in a fair housing Supreme Court case, Justice Kennedy said that the law clearly looks at impact, not intent.

— olivia b. waxman, Time, "Walter Mondale on 50 Years of the Fair Housing Act and the Problem With Purging a President's Cabinet," 11 Apr. 2018
If dramas like American Crime Story seem intent on enabling a new interpretation of past events, The Looming Tower is a less grandstanding affair.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "The Gripping History of The Looming Tower," 1 Mar. 2018
The Eagles used this tactic often in 2017 and the Colts seem intent on including it in their new scheme.

— stephen holder, Indianapolis Star, "Frank Reich's Colts offense to feature shotgun, no-huddle, run-pass options," 15 Feb. 2018
Both sides seem intent on scoring political victories without thinking about who is affected.

— julie heath, Cincinnati.com, "Dear lawmakers: What are your plans for protecting the most vulnerable among us?," 1 Jan. 2018

Origin and Etymology of intent

Latin intentus, from past participle of intendere

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

intent Synonyms

Phrases

on one's mettle;

INTENT Defined for English Language Learners

intent

noun

: the thing that you plan to do or achieve : an aim or purpose

intent

adjective

: showing concentration or great attention

INTENT Defined for Kids

intent

noun in·tent \ in-ˈtent \

1 : what someone plans to do or accomplish : purpose

Upsetting her was not my intent.

2 : meaning 2

What is the author's intent?

intent

adjective

1 : showing concentration or great attention

an intent gaze

2 : showing great determination

They were intent on going.

—

intently

adverb

I listened intently.

Law Dictionary

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 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

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

2 : 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