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

• purpose
• intention
• goal
• plan
• aim
• objective
• idea
• object
• ambition
• thing

Adjective

• resolute
• determined
• decisive
• positive

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

Police believe the act was done with malicious intent. —Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 26 Oct. 2025

There’s no intent (by Olivier). —Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Overall, though, except for a few ringers, the people around us, while quite intent, were very polite. —Greg Palkot, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025

The Russians were especially intent on winning the cooperation of the power plant’s nuclear engineers and other employees. —Simon Shuster, Time, 23 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for intent

• accent
• advent
• ascent
• assent
• augment
• cement
• consent
• dement
• descent
• detent
• dissent
• event

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