intent

Sayin-TENT/ɪnˈtɛnt/

5 meanings of intent

1
noununcountable
What a person plans or means to do.
Like a plan in your head before you start doing something.
She came with the intent to help her neighbors.
His clear intent was to finish the project early.
Similarintention, purpose, aim, objective, goal
Note
2
noununcountable
What a person was thinking or meaning to do when they broke the law.
Like knowing if someone hit you on purpose or by accident.
The court had to decide if there was any intent behind his actions.
Police could not prove intent, so the charge was dropped.
Note
3
adjective
Strongly focused on one thing and paying very close attention to it.
Like staring at something so hard that you forget everything else.
He was intent on finishing his homework before dinner.
The cat sat intent on the bird outside the window.
Similarfocused, fixed, absorbed, engrossed
Oppositedistracted, inattentive
Note
4
adjective
Determined to keep doing something and not stop.
Like a runner who keeps going even when very tired.
He was intent on getting his money back, no matter what.
They were intent on reaching the top before dark.
Similarbent, set, determined, resolved, resolute
Oppositeirresolute, hesitant, wavering
5
adjective
Deeply absorbed in what you are doing or watching.
Like being so caught up in a book that you forget to eat.
The boy had an intent face as he watched the magic trick.
She was so intent that she did not hear the phone ring.
Similarrapt, absorbed, engrossed, focused, attentive
Oppositedistracted, inattentive, vacant

Practice

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Origin

This word comes from Latin "intentus." It came into English through Old French and Middle English, and its spelling was later changed to look more like the Latin word.