intentional
gb/ɪntˈɛnʃənəl/ us/ɪntˈɛnʃənəl/
B2
English
~ 7800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
done deliberately, not accidental
Done on purpose, not by mistake or accident.
Usage pattern:
an intentional [action/act/decision]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "intentional" with "intense" or "intensive". "Intentional" means "on purpose"; it does not mean "strong" or "very serious". Another common mistake is saying *"It was intentionally"* instead of *"It was intentional"* when using it as an adjective after "be".
Synonyms
deliberate (Very close in meaning; often slightly more formal and common in legal or careful descriptions.)
|
planned (Emphasizes that something was arranged in advance, not just that it was not an accident.)
|
purposeful (Suggests a clear goal or reason behind the action, sometimes with a positive tone.)
Antonyms
accidental (Describes something that happens by chance and not on purpose, the direct opposite idea.)
|
unintentional (Directly states that there was no plan or wish to do the action.)
Collocations
intentional harm
|intentional damage
|intentional act
|intentional discrimination
|intentional design
|intentional killing
Themes
daily_life
|law
|ethics
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The jury had to decide whether the shooting was intentional or an accident.
- Breaking the window was not intentional; the ball just bounced the wrong way.
- Her comment sounded rude, but I don’t think it was intentional.
- The report shows a pattern of intentional data manipulation over several years.
- He was charged with causing intentional damage to public property.
Learner examples
- It was an intentional mistake to test the system.
- His lie was intentional, and it hurt her.
- The teacher asked if the spill was intentional or not.
- She made an intentional choice to move to a smaller city.
adjective
B2
property
2
purposeful and thoughtful in behavior
Describes a person or way of living where someone thinks carefully and chooses what to do for a clear reason.
Usage pattern:
an intentional [person/leader/parent/life]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "intentional" only for negative things (like harm) and feel unsure using it for positive ideas such as "an intentional life" or "intentional parenting". In modern English, this sense is common and often has a positive tone of being thoughtful and value-driven.
Synonyms
purposeful (Very close in meaning; often suggests strong direction and motivation.)
|
mindful (Stresses being mentally present and aware, often used in wellness and self-help contexts.)
|
deliberate (Emphasizes careful thought, sometimes sounding slightly more serious or formal.)
Antonyms
careless (Suggests a lack of thought or responsibility, the opposite of thoughtful intentional behavior.)
|
random (Implies choices are made without plan or reason, unlike intentional living.)
Collocations
an intentional life
|intentional living
|intentional parenting
|intentional leadership
|be intentional about [something]
|more intentional with my time
Themes
personal_development
|relationships
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We’re trying to be more intentional with how we spend our weekends.
- She is a very intentional leader who thinks deeply about every major decision.
- I want to be intentional about the kind of parent I become.
- Their marriage improved when they became intentional about communicating every day.
- He described his move to the countryside as an intentional choice to slow down and simplify his life.
Learner examples
- I am trying to be more intentional with my money.
- We need to be intentional about how we use our time.
- She is very intentional in how she talks to her children.
- They live an intentional life, with few things and clear goals.
adjective
technical
C2
property
3
aboutness of mental states (technical)
Used in philosophy and psychology for thoughts and feelings that are about something, like a person, object, or idea.
Usage pattern:
an intentional [state/stance/system]
Common mistake:
Learners may assume this technical sense is simply about doing something "on purpose". In philosophy and psychology, however, "intentional" is about a mental state being directed toward an object (its "aboutness"), not about whether it was chosen on purpose.
Synonyms
representational (Technical term highlighting that a mental state stands for or represents something else.)
Antonyms
non-representational (Describes mental or cognitive phenomena that are not about or directed toward anything.)
Collocations
intentional state
|intentional stance
|intentional system
|intentional content
|intentional object
|intentionality
Themes
philosophy
|psychology
|science
|education
Examples
- Dennett’s theory treats beliefs as intentional states that can be interpreted from the intentional stance.
- Perception is typically considered an intentional state because it is about objects in the world.
- The book explores how language expresses the intentional content of our mental states.
- Some philosophers argue that consciousness cannot be fully explained in purely intentional terms.
- The distinction between intentional and non-intentional mental phenomena is central to this debate.
Learner examples
- In this class, we will study intentional states like beliefs and desires.
- The professor said that every belief is an intentional mental state because it is about something.
- Philosophers use the word "intentional" in a special way to talk about the mind.
Grammar
Dictionary form
intentional
IPA
GB/ɪntˈɛnʃənəl/
US/ɪntˈɛnʃənəl/
Syllables & stress
in - ten - tion - al (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ten)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: intentional
Word family
Core family
Related words
intent
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
unintentional
adjective
unintentionally
adverb
Advanced or less common
intentionality
noun
Expressions
be intentional about [something]
1/bˈi ɪntˈɛnʃənəl əbˈaʊt sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
act purposefully in a specific area
To think carefully and make clear choices in one part of your life, instead of just doing things without a plan.
Examples
- We need to be intentional about how we use social media.
- She is very intentional about the people she spends time with.
- Try to be intentional about rest, not just work.
intentional community
1/ɪntˈɛnʃənəl kəmjˈunɪti/
fixed phrase
planned community with shared values
A group of people who choose to live together, often in the same place, and share common values, goals, or ways of living.
Examples
- They joined an intentional community focused on sustainable farming.
- The town hosts several intentional communities built around different spiritual traditions.
- Living in an intentional community requires clear agreements and strong communication.
intentional grounding
1/ɪntˈɛnʃənəl ɡɹˈaʊndɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
American football penalty for avoiding a loss
In American football, intentional grounding is a penalty when the quarterback throws the ball away where no receiver can catch it, just to avoid being tackled.
Examples
- The quarterback was flagged for intentional grounding late in the fourth quarter.
- They argued that it wasn’t intentional grounding because a receiver was in the area.
- Intentional grounding cost the team valuable yards and a down.
intentional living
1/ɪntˈɛnʃənəl lˈɪvɪŋ/
fixed phrase
living by conscious, chosen values
A way of life where you make careful choices that match your values and goals, instead of just following habit or pressure.
Examples
- Her blog is all about intentional living and simple habits.
- Intentional living helped him cut out activities that didn’t matter to him.
- They practice intentional living by limiting screens and spending more time outdoors.
intentional tort
1/ɪntˈɛnʃənəl tˈɔɹt/
fixed phrase
technical
deliberate harmful act in civil law
In law, an intentional tort is when someone harms another person on purpose, and the harmed person can ask for money in civil court.
Examples
- Battery and false imprisonment are classic examples of an intentional tort.
- The law firm specializes in cases that involve intentional torts and serious negligence.
- To prove an intentional tort, the plaintiff must show that the defendant meant to do the harmful act.
on purpose
1/ˈɔn pˈɚpəs/
fixed phrase
Intentionally, not accidentally
To do something on purpose means you do it because you want to, not by accident.
Examples
- I didn't break the vase on purpose.
- She left early on purpose so she could avoid traffic.
on purpose
2/ˈɔn pˈɚpəs/
fixed phrase
done deliberately, not by mistake
Done with intention, not by accident.
Examples
- She broke the vase on purpose.
- He left early on purpose to avoid traffic.
on purpose
3/ˈɔn pˈɚpəs/
fixed phrase
deliberately; not by accident
To do something on purpose means to do it intentionally, not by mistake or by chance.
Examples
- You broke my phone on purpose, didn’t you?
- He spilled coffee on his shirt and then joked that he did it on purpose to leave the meeting early.
- She didn’t ignore you on purpose; she just didn’t see your message.