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 51�Թ� Forms

��·�ٱ�Գ�·�� adverb
��·�ٱ�Գ�·�Ա�� noun

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51�Թ� 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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51�Թ� 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

Idioms

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.

Democrats also added language to the bill that said it was the Legislature’s “intent” to strengthen protections for older teens, which does not affect how the charge of soliciting minors will be prosecuted.

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Boniface Mwabukusi, president of the Tanganyika Law Society, who visited the priest in hospital, said it had been "a brutal attack with the intent to take his life".

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Those directives “may well be inconsistent” with the intent of Congress when it passed legislation standing up the division, the senators wrote, and must be disclosed to them for review by Thursday.

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But she alleges Ms Patterson "deliberately poisoned" her guests "with murderous intent", after after inviting them for lunch "on the pretence she'd been diagnosed with cancer".

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The bill sought to criminalize loitering with intent to buy sex and build on existing state law to make it a felony to solicit anyone under 18 for sex.

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Related 51�Թ�s

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

intensive care unit intention

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