INTENT Definition & Meaning

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intent

[ in-tent ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

something that someone is intending or meaning to do or achieve; purpose or objective:
The committee's original intent was to raise funds.
the act or fact of meaning to do something:
Any identified individual found to have violated this rule with intent will be suspended from all participation in the forum.
Synonyms: , ,
Law. the state of a person's mind that directs their actions toward a specific object:
He was arrested for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
the meaning or significance of something said, written, or done:
I think this summary captures the intent of her lengthy speech.
It’s difficult to understand the intent of your actions—please explain.

intent

[ in-tent ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

firmly or steadfastly fixed or directed, as the eyes or mind:
an intent gaze.
Synonyms:
having the attention sharply focused or fixed on something:
intent on one's job.
Synonyms:
determined or resolved; having the mind or will fixed on some goal:
intent on revenge.
Synonyms: ,
Antonyms: , , ,
earnest; intense:
an intent person.

intent

/ ɪ��ˈ��ɛ�Գ� /

noun

something that is intended; aim; purpose; design
the act of intending
law the will or purpose with which one does an act
implicit meaning; connotation
to all intents and purposes
for all practical purposes; virtually

adjective

firmly fixed; determined; concentrated
an intent look
postpositive; usually foll by on or upon having the fixed intention (of); directing one's mind or energy (to)
intent on committing a crime

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Derived Forms

��ˈ�ٱ�ԳٲԱ��, noun
��ˈ�ٱ�Գٱ��, adverb

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Other �y��vlog Forms

��·�ٱ�Գ�·�� adverb
��·�ٱ�Գ�·�Ա�� noun

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of intent¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Late Latin intentus “an aim, purpose,” from Latin intentus “a stretching out,” equivalent to inten(dere) + -tus suffix of verbal action; replacing Middle English entent(e), from Old French, from Late Latin, as above; intend

Origin of intent²

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin intentus “taut, intent,” past participle of intendere “to aim at” ( intend ); intense

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of intent¹

C13 (in the sense: intention): from Late Latin intentus aim, intent, from Latin: a stretching out; see intend

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Idioms and Phrases

to / for all intents and purposes, for all practical purposes; practically speaking; virtually:
The book is, to all intents and purposes, a duplication of earlier efforts.

More idioms and phrases containing intent

see to all intents and purposes .

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Synonym Study

See intention.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Canada has come to believe that Trump is actually serious about wanting to annex their country and is intent upon collapsing their economy in order to make that happen.

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“Our design intent was to not make a plan,” Godshall says.

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For a team who are desperate for a win, they showed absolutely zero attacking intent even when they went two goals down.

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But she told the inquest on Thursday that his intent was not to kill others.

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And into that power vacuum, the unelected rich and powerful happily stepped, intent on Getting Big Things done.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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