something that is intended; purpose; design; intention: The original intent of the committee was to raise funds.
the act or fact of intending, as to do something: criminal intent.
Law. the state of a person's mind that directs his or her actions toward a specific object.
meaning or significance.
Idioms for intent
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.
Origin of intent
1
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; see intend
SYNONYMS FOR intent
2 aim, plan, plot.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR intent ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for intent
1. See intention.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH intent
intense, intents
Words nearby intent
intensitometer, intensity, intensive, intensive care, intensive care unit, intent, intention, intentional, intentional community, intentional fallacy, intentional foul
Definition for intent (2 of 2)
intent2
[ in-tent ]
/ ɪnˈtɛnt /
adjective
firmly or steadfastly fixed or directed, as the eyes or mind: an intent gaze.
having the attention sharply focused or fixed on something: intent on one's job.
determined or resolved; having the mind or will fixed on some goal: intent on revenge.
earnest; intense: an intent person.
Origin of intent
2
1600–10; <Latin intentus taut, intent, past participle of intendere to intend; cf. intense