intently

adverb

in·​tent·​ly in-ˈtent-lē How to pronounce intently (audio)
Synonyms of intentlynext
: in an intent or concentrated manner : with great effort, attention, or concentration
Their eyes, when they look at you and listen intently, focus like laser beams.Molly Haskell
He turned back to face her again and stared at her most intently.Robert C. O'Brien

Examples of intently in a Sentence

intently studied his notes just before the exam
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The rebuttal, published Tuesday, is a clear sign of how intently China is focusing on the case – and the White House’s broader push to root out its influence in the region. Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026 Sitting to Braun’s left, listening intently, was the man who will have to play a large role in making that happen. Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026 Providing some respite from the violent mayhem are scenes in which Manafort stares intently at computer screens tracking what’s going on and the new MI6 chief (Ackie) barks orders at her underlings. Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026 Although contemporary education policy has focused intently on standardized tests, student and teacher tracking, and other accountability measures, the CIS study suggests that the United States could bolster achievement by providing more social support too. Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for intently

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of intently was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Intently.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intently. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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