intently

adverb

in·​tent·​ly in-ˈtent-lē How to pronounce intently (audio)
Synonyms of intently
: 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

Synonyms of intently

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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.
Greg Derr / Pool via The Patriot Ledger During Reddington’s closing argument, Clancy’s parents seemed to be intently focused. — Sumiko Corley, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026 This commitment to investing in people, listening intently, and acting on feedback drives continuous improvement, proving that exceptional service is a deliberate outcome of strong leadership and a responsive culture. — Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Auf der Maur, in white, is twisted away from the audience, staring intently at the lens. — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026 The jury was listening intently and looking at the screen as the story of the shooting unfolded, more engaged after already listening to hours of the recording. — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 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

Rhymes for intently

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Browse Nearby Words

intentive
intently
intentness
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Cite this Entry

“Intently.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intently. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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