INTENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does intent mean? 

• INTENT (noun)
  The noun INTENT has 2 senses:

1. an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

2. the intended meaning of a communication

  Familiarity information: INTENT used as a noun is rare.

• INTENT (adjective)
  The adjective INTENT has 1 sense:

1. giving or marked by complete attention to

  Familiarity information: INTENT used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INTENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

aim; design; intent; intention; purpose

Context example:

he made no secret of his designs

Hypernyms ("intent" is a kind of...):

end; goal (the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "intent"):

idea; mind (your intention; what you intend to do)

cross-purpose (a contrary aim)

final cause ((philosophy) the end or purpose of a thing or process)

sake (the purpose of achieving or obtaining)

view (purpose; the phrase 'with a view to' means 'with the intention of' or 'for the purpose of')

will (a fixed and persistent intent or purpose)

Derivation:

intend (have in mind as a purpose)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The intended meaning of a communication

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

intent; purport; spirit

Hypernyms ("intent" is a kind of...):

import; meaning; significance; signification (the message that is intended or expressed or signified)

Derivation:

intend (mean or intend to express or convey)

• INTENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Giving or marked by complete attention to

Synonyms:

absorbed; captive; engrossed; enwrapped; intent; wrapped

Context example:

wrapped in thought

Similar:

attentive ((often followed by 'to') giving care or attention)

Derivation:

intentness (the quality of being intent and concentrated)

 Context examples 

We mean to leave no stone unturned to carry out our intent.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I was convinced, from his intent face and his purposeful manner, that at last he was upon a clue.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

How often have I seen him, intent upon a match at marbles or pegtop, looking on with a face of unutterable interest, and hardly breathing at the critical times!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It would have been easier to go on the train, but the round trip was two dollars and a half, and he was intent on saving money.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It is clear that the universe was intent on giving you a chance to showcase your managerial talents and other skills.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The intent of the domain model is to only collect those criteria that cause the subject to be in violation of the inclusion/exclusion criteria not a response to each criterion.

(Inclusion Exclusion Domain, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

The intent is to find cancers at the earliest possible stage in their development, in order to improve the chances for disease cure.

(Cancer Screening, NCI Dictionary)

A procedure with the intent of expanding a collapsed vertebra.

(Kyphoplasty, NCI Thesaurus)

Sufficient for me to share the sport and lend my humble help to the capture without distracting that intent brain with needless interruption.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I cannot tell,” quoth Alleyne shortly; and the two squires rode on again, each intent upon his own thoughts.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)