Intent

//ɪnˈtɛnt// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Something that is intended. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions wordnet
  3. 3
    The state of someone’s mind at the time of committing an offence. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    the intended meaning of a communication wordnet
Adjective
  1. 1
    Firmly fixed or concentrated on something.

    "a mind intent on self-improvement"

  2. 2
    Engrossed.
  3. 3
    Unwavering from a course of action.
Adjective
  1. 1
    giving or marked by complete attention to wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
engrossedpurposeabandonedabsorbedabsorbedabsorbed in

Example

More examples

"She's intent on going to New York to study fashion."

Etymology

Existing since Middle English entente, from Old French entent or entente, ultimately from Latin intentus. Modified later in spelling to align more closely with the Latin word. Compare intention.

Related phrases

authorial intentdeclaration of intentdirect intentintent filterletter of intentmopery with intent to creepmopery with intent to gawkoblique intentpossession with intent to supplystatement of intenttransferred intentall intents and purposes

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.