intent

intent — adjective

1. showing complete focus on what you are doing, so that you notice little else aro

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

showing complete focus on what you are doing, so that you notice little else around you.

Example

Hannah was so intent on her painting that she forgot about lunch.

intent on + noun for complete focus

The dog watched the gate with an intent expression, waiting for its owner.

Common collocations
  • intent on
  • intent upon
  • intent look
  • intent gaze
  • intent expression
Synonyms
  • absorbed

    focuses on deep mental involvement, while 'intent' also suggests visible physical concentration

  • engrossed

    slightly stronger than 'intent'; suggests being fully taken over by the activity

  • fixated

    more negative — can imply an unhealthy or obsessive focus

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be intent on + noun/gerund

Usage Note

Usually used in the pattern 'be intent on something' or as an attributive adjective before nouns like 'gaze', 'look', or 'expression'.

Common Mistakes

He is intent to finish his homework.
He is intent on finishing his homework.
When describing focus, 'intent' takes 'on' + gerund, not 'to' + infinitive.

2. firmly determined to achieve a particular goal, especially when this requires ef

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

firmly determined to achieve a particular goal, especially when this requires effort or persistence.

Example

The school is intent on improving reading scores by the end of the year.

intent on + gerund for determination

Rodrigo was intent on finishing the marathon, despite the pain in his leg.

Common collocations
  • intent on winning
  • intent on proving
  • intent on achieving
  • intent on making
Synonyms
  • resolute

    more formal and suggests unwavering firmness in the face of difficulty

  • set (on)

    more informal; 'She is set on becoming a lawyer'

  • bent (on)

    slightly stronger and can imply stubbornness

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be intent on + gerund/noun

Usage Note

Frequently used in the pattern 'be intent on + gerund'. Unlike 'determined', 'intent' does not pair with 'to' + infinitive ('She is intent to win' is incorrect). Compare with the adjective sense FOCUSED: the DETERMINED sense emphasises a goal or outcome, not the quality of attention itself.

Common Mistakes

She is intent to win the competition.
She is intent on winning the competition.
'Intent on' (not 'intent to') is the correct pattern for this sense.
Idioms

to all intents and purposes

idiom

in almost every important way; for practical purposes, even if not officially or exactly true.

To all intents and purposes, the old factory has been abandoned for years.

The two systems are, to all intents and purposes, identical.

intent — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words relate to what someone wants to achieve, but they differ in formality and focus. Intent is the most formal and often suggests a firm, deliberate plan, especially in legal or official contexts (e.g., 'letter of intent'). Intention is the everyday word — you use it in casual conversation ('I have no intention of going'). Aim focuses on the specific target you are shooting for, like a goal ('her aim was to finish by Friday'). Purpose emphasises the reason behind an action, answering the question 'why?' ('the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the budget'), whereas intent answers 'what do you plan to do?'. Example: 'His intention was to talk to her, but his real purpose was to apologise. His aim was to win back her trust, and he made his intent clear in the letter he sent.'

intent ↗intention ↗aim ↗purpose ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Intent comes from Latin intentus, the past participle of intendere, meaning 'to stretch out, aim at.' The Latin in- 'toward' + tendere 'to stretch' gives the core image of stretching your mind toward a goal. The word travelled into English through Old French entent / entente in the 13th century, first carrying the noun sense of 'purpose, aim.' The adjective sense developed from the idea of having one's attention stretched toward something — hence 'focused' or 'determined.'