Word
intent
Phoneticsin·tent, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈtɛnt/
UK/ɪntˈɛnt/
Definitions
01purpose or goal
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the thing you plan to do or achieve; your aim.
n. the objective or purpose behind an action. Often uncountable when referring to general aim.
“It was never my intent to hurt your feelings with that comment.”
“The government's stated intent was to reduce carbon emissions by forty percent over the next decade, though critics questioned the lack of a concrete roadmap.”
02legal state of mind
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. the state of a person's mind when they commit a crime.
n. the mental state of a person at the time of committing an offence, which determines the degree of culpability.
“The jury had to decide if the driver had the intent to cause harm.”
“To secure a conviction for first-degree murder, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant acted with specific intent and premeditation.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03focused or determined
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. giving all your attention to something because you are very interested or determined.
adj. showing earnest and eager attention; firmly resolved on a specific course of action.
“She was so intent on her book that she didn't hear me enter.”
“The researchers remained intent on their observations, refusing to leave the laboratory until the final data points had been recorded and verified.”
Usage
usually followed by the preposition 'on'
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “intent” in context.
Verb
01. declare your intent
“The company has yet to formally declare its intent to acquire the smaller startup.”
verb + possessive + noun
02. mask his intent
“He used vague language to mask his true intent during the negotiations.”
verb + possessive + noun
03. signal an intent
“The central bank's recent statement signaled an intent to raise interest rates next quarter.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. clear intent
“There was a clear intent to deceive the public regarding the safety of the new drug.”
adj + noun
05. malicious intent
“The prosecutor argued that the defendant acted with malicious intent rather than by accident.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. intent to defraud
“He was charged with wire fraud after investigators proved his intent to defraud the investors.”
noun + infinitive
07. statement of intent
“The two nations signed a formal statement of intent to cooperate on climate change initiatives.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. with the intent of
“She joined the local council with the intent of improving public transport in the area.”
prep + noun + prep
Real-World Examples
“Davis was charged in Nevada’s Clark County on Monday with a single count of murder using a deadly weapon and with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang.” “One of the intents of government is to use electronic tagging to monitor offenders in the community.” “Pidgins, planned languages, and laboratory mini-languages show that language learning depends on detecting rules, patterns, meaning, and communicative intent.” “The hacking of such a system potentially allows its designers to “gather counter-intelligence about the intruders’ intent, identity, and means and methods of cyber operations.” The honey-trapping here is all about the bytes.” Etymology
Existing since Middle English entente, from Old French entent or entente, ultimately from Latin intentus. Modified later in spelling to align more closely with the Latin word. Compare intention.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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