intent

noun in·tent \ 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

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

Although Halep played valiantly amid difficult circumstances, Sharapova demonstrated her intent from the second shot, a screaming backhand winner behind Halep.

— david waldstein, New York Times, "Maria Sharapova Returns With Electrifying Win Over Simona Halep," 29 Aug. 2017
As part of the tax's original intent, $2 million was directly allocated to pay down debt in 2016 and $4.09 million went to capital projects.

— erin hegarty, Naperville Sun, "Advisory board recommends doubling sales tax, tossing property tax abatement," 29 Aug. 2017
Still, the intent of the daughters was the same — to continue their father's seed.

— rabbi avi weiss, Jewish Journal, "Weiss: Individuals engaged in acts of kindness are destined to redeem the world," 28 Aug. 2017
Meade Commonwealth’s Attorney David Michael Williams has since signaled his intent to bring them back to trial.

— darcy costello, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky Supreme Court upholds ruling vacating conviction of men in 1992's 'Satanic' murder," 24 Aug. 2017
Meanwhile, Jon is intent on saving the captured wight at any cost, dragging its body away from the battlefield as his men fight for him.

— julie kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 6: 16 Things to Know About "Beyond the Wall"," 21 Aug. 2017
Robinson recently was released from his letter-of-intent at Western Kentucky after attending class and practicing with the Hilltoppers for two weeks in July but electing to leave the school on July 27.

— gary bedore, kansascity, "Marvin Bagley to announce Monday; Robinson quiet (so far) after KU visit," 13 Aug. 2017
No matter how brief the performance or playful the intent, summoning black images to play types means pirouetting on over 150 years of American blackface tradition.

— lauren michele jackson, Teen Vogue, "We Need to Talk About Digital Blackface in Reaction GIFs," 2 Aug. 2017
Even though congressional leaders have often used it to move legislation that has broader intent, the process has strict rules about spending or saving federal dollars.

— julie rovner, Kaiser Health News, "Who Knew Senate Health Bill Debate Could Be So Complicated?," 25 July 2017

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

See Words from the same year

intent Synonyms

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

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

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

—

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

Yet, despite the tensions, key elements of the U.S. government are intent on improving relations with Turkey.

— aaron stein, The Atlantic, "The Awkward, Necessary U.S.-Turkey Relationship," 23 Aug. 2017
Yet CDU campaign officials are intent on conveying the message that the chancellor is in touch with digital pop culture, even though Merkel isn’t on Twitter.

— rainer buergin, Bloomberg.com, "Merkel Hits Games Convention in Bid for Vanishing Youth Vote," 22 Aug. 2017
Even so, Maduro seemed intent on downplaying the fallout from Ortega’s defection.

— jim wyss, miamiherald, "Venezuela’s rebel prosecutor heads to Brazil as Maduro seeks her arrest," 22 Aug. 2017
Most of the people walking by seem more intent on fueling up at the neighboring Starbucks.

— robert philpot, star-telegram, "Old friends Justin Frazell and Jeremy Robinson do a Texas radio two-step on the Ranch," 16 Aug. 2017
As Robyns sees it, Christie was intent on exacting revenge on her husband by prolonging the separation.

— stefania de vito, Scientific American, "Was Agatha Christie’s Mysterious Amnesia Real or Revenge on Her Cheating Spouse?," 2 Aug. 2017
Jay Sekulow, one of the president's private lawyers, said in an interview Thursday that the president and his legal team are intent on making sure Mueller stays within the boundaries of his assignment as special counsel.

— ivana hrynkiw, AL.com, "One dead after Interstate 65 crash in Warrior, northbound lanes closed," 21 July 2017
At the same time, the first sentence seems intent on convincing the scientific community that Culberson is much more supportive of science than the president.

— jeffrey mervis, Science | AAAS, "Why a flat 2018 budget could tie NSF’s hands," 14 July 2017
The Bobbies are the kind of consumers who should be the target audience for Republicans intent on repealing the Affordable Care Act.

— will stone, Kaiser Health News, "Protected But Priced Out: Patients Worry About Health Law’s Future In Arizona," 8 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of intent

Latin intentus, from past participle of intendere

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

intent Synonyms

INTENT Defined for English Language Learners

intent

noun

Definition of intent for English Language Learners

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

intent

adjective

Definition of intent for English Language Learners

: showing concentration or great attention

INTENT Defined for Kids

intent

noun in·tent \ in-ˈtent \

Definition of intent for Students

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

Definition of intent for Students

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 \

legal Definition of intent

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