Intent Meaning
/ɪnˈtɛnt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounSomething that is intended.
nounThe state of someone’s mind at the time of committing an offence.
Sentence Examples
I have no real intent.
She's intent on going to New York to study fashion.
She denies possessing the drug with intent to supply.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The detective was ____ on solving the case and did not rest until he found the truth.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The boy's ____ was to help his mother, but he accidentally broke her favorite blue vase instead.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Yea more, with his own hand he ſeem’d
Intent to aggravate my woe;"
— 1779, John Newton, “Prayer anſwered by croſſes”, in Olney hymns, in three books, London: W. Oliver, page 353:
"And it was while all were passionately intent upon the pleasing and snake-like progress of their uncle that a young girl in furs, ascending the stairs two at a time, peeped perfunctorily into the nursery as she passed the hallway—and halted amazed."
— 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter I, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
"Uruguay were quick to the ball, strong in the tackle and seemed intent on showing they were a better team than had been apparent in their defeat to Costa Rica."
— 2014 June 20, Daniel Taylor, “World Cup 2014: Uruguay sink England as Suárez makes his mark”, in guardian.co.uk:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The detective was ____ on solving the case and did not rest until he found the truth.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The boy's ____ was to help his mother, but he accidentally broke her favorite blue vase instead.