intent

1 of 2

noun

in·tent in-ˈtent

Synonyms of intent next

: a usually clearly formulated or planned intention : aim

the director's intent

: the act or fact of intending : purpose

especially : the design or purpose to commit a wrongful or criminal act

admitted wounding him with intent

: the state of mind with which an act is done : volition

: meaning, significance

: connotation sense 3

intent

2 of 2

adjective

: directed with strained or eager attention : concentrated

: having the mind, attention, or will concentrated on something or some end or purpose

intent on their work

intentness noun

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

Sibal called the situation unusual and said the intent was to protect the puppies from contracting diseases. —

Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024 The intent is to restrict Russia’s access to the international financial system and limit the flow of funds to Russia’s war machine. —

Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

Adjective

Back home on Wall Street, meanwhile, Lutnick seems intent on reviving the moribund SPAC market. —

Dan Primack, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024 President of baseball operations Craig Breslow seems intent on upgrading his starting rotation, based on recent comments to The Athletic. —

Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for intent

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of intent was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Intent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intent. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

intent

1 of 2 noun

in·tent in-ˈtent

: purpose sense 1, intention

with intent to injure

: meaning entry 1 sense 1a

the intent of the law

intent

2 of 2 adjective

: directed with strained or eager attention

an intent gaze

: having the mind, attention, or will concentrated on something

: set on some end or purpose

intent on going

intently adverb

intentness noun

Legal Definition

intent

noun

in·tent in-ˈtent

: the act or fact of intending: as

: the design or purpose to commit a wrongful or criminal act

called also criminal intent

compare knowledge, mens rea, motive, negligence

: 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

: intendment see also legislative intent

: the purpose of a document (as a contract or will)

: 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

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intent

noun

adjective

Synonyms

Examples of intent in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near intent

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Legal Definition