intent

What you plan or mean to do.

• My intent was to help.
• He explained his original intent.
• We acted with no intent to cause harm.

How to use it: intent to do something (She showed a clear intent to cooperate.)

Similar words: intention, purpose, aim

Common phrases: original intent, with intent, clear intent, stated intent

What someone meant to do when they committed a crime.

• The court must establish intent.
• The prosecution failed to prove criminal intent.
• She denied acting with intent to kill.

How to use it: with intent to do something (He entered the building with intent to steal.)

Similar words: criminal intention

Common phrases: criminal intent, prove intent, intent to kill

Strongly wanting to do something and unwilling to give up.

• He is intent on winning.
• They seemed intent on leaving early.
• Why are you so intent on buying that house?

How to use it: intent on something/doing something (She is intent on starting her own business.)

Similar words: determined, resolved, set

Common phrases: intent on winning, intent on success, seem intent

Giving all your attention to something.

• She watched with an intent gaze.
• He was intent on his work.
• Their intent expressions showed how closely they were listening.

How to use it: intent on something/doing something (He was so intent on reading that he missed his stop.)

Similar words: focused, absorbed, attentive

Opposites: distracted, inattentive

Common phrases: intent gaze, intent expression, intent on reading