intent

1. 1
   noununcountable

   An aim or purpose that someone has in mind.

   The contract makes both parties' intent clear from the start.

   He acted with the intent of resolving the dispute peacefully.

   Similarintention, purpose, aim, objective, goal

   Note

   The spelling was once French. It came in as Middle English entente, from Old French, and was later reshaped to sit closer to its Latin source, intentus. Intention is its near relative. It works as a count noun (a clear intent) and as a mass noun (acted with intent). The "concentrated" adjective comes from the same origin, so the noun and adjective are one word history, not two.

2. 2
   noununcountable

   A person's state of mind at the time of committing an offense.

   Prosecutors must establish criminal intent beyond a reasonable doubt.

   The jury weighed whether intent existed at the moment the act occurred.

   Note

   Law gives the everyday word a narrower job. It names the mental element that goes with a prohibited act: what the defendant meant or knew at the moment of the offense. Courts use it to tell deliberate wrongdoing from accident and to measure blame. The everyday "aim" sense points to a goal. This one describes a state of mind, which is why criminal intent is something to be established, not assumed.

3. 3
   adjective

   Firmly fixed or concentrated on a particular thing.

   She remained intent on the chessboard, ignoring everything around her.

   The young scientist was intent on the experiment for hours.

   Similarfocused, fixed, absorbed, engrossed

   Oppositedistracted, inattentive

   Note

   Fixed attention needs a preposition, and the choice is on or upon. Robert W. Chambers writes "passionately intent upon" in The Younger Set (1907), while Daniel Taylor's 2014 World Cup report has Uruguay "intent on showing" they were better. Either preposition can take a noun after it (intent on self-improvement) or an -ing verb (intent on showing).

4. 4
   adjective

   Determined and unwavering in following a chosen course of action.

   The committee was intent on passing the reform despite fierce opposition.

   She stayed intent on her goal even when everyone else gave up.

   Similarbent, set, determined, resolved, resolute

   Oppositeirresolute, hesitant, wavering

5. 5
   adjective

   Completely absorbed or engrossed in something.

   His intent gaze never left the screen during the entire film.

   They listened with intent attention as the story unfolded.

   Similarrapt, absorbed, engrossed, focused, attentive

   Oppositedistracted, inattentive, vacant

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