intentionally

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'intentionally' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone or something that has been done deliberately, with a specific purpose in mind. For example, "He intentionally failed the test, hoping that his parents would be more encouraging."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's the first time I have been (intentionally) made to laugh out loud at a style piece.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"When we spoke to the investigator he told us that it was an incendiary fire, which means that it was a suspected arson, that someone intentionally set the place aflame," Zahid said in a video message on the institute's Facebook page.

The Guardian

She said the video "intentionally spreads some of the worst ideas of an extremely socially conservative and patriarchal society".

The Guardian

I would never intentionally do anything that might leave country music.

The Guardian - Music

At around 2.15pm on Saturday 26 April 2014 the victim was cycling along St Mary's Road when a blue estate car drove intentionally into the back of him, slamming him to the ground.

The Guardian

Supported by the Guardian, the campaign's primary goal was, and still is, to get people, organisations, companies and even governments to pledge to reduce their carbon emissions by 10% by the end of 2010 – an intentionally straightforward gesture, both in its simplicity and achievability.

The Guardian

Rodriguez, who is allowed to play as his suspension is appealed, was thrown at intentionally on Sunday by Boston's Ryan Dempster (who was subsequently suspended for five games); watched his lawyer be ambushed on NBC's The Today Show on Monday; and also prepared to file a grievance via the players union against the Yankees, for the way they've handled his hip issues.

The Guardian - Sport

One of the main ways in which The Wire uses comedy is to develop someone's character, because we never get a clearer picture of someone than when they are being funny (though not necessarily intentionally).

The Guardian

"No woman intentionally harms her unborn child," he said.

The Guardian

Apple intentionally deleted music not bought from iTunes from users' iPods between 2007 and 2009, a court was told in a antitrust suit against Apple.

The Guardian - Tech

The core strategy will be to intentionally focus growth on sectors of the economy that provide local jobs but don't deplete natural assets or the social fabric of the state – sectors like arts and culture, biotechnology, clean energy, education, financial services, food and forest products, and healthcare.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Choose "intentionally" to convey a sense of purpose and deliberation behind an action, especially when discussing motivations or responsibilities.

Common error

Avoid using "intentionally" when you actually mean "unintentionally". Double-check your sentence to ensure that the action was indeed deliberate, as using the wrong adverb can completely change the meaning.

Linguistic Context

The word "intentionally" functions as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate that an action was performed deliberately or on purpose. It adds information about how the action was carried out. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates a conscious choice.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

24%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intentionally" is an adverb used to express that an action was done on purpose. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and widely used, especially in news and formal business contexts. It's crucial to distinguish it from "unintentionally" to avoid misrepresenting the actor's purpose. When using "intentionally", consider synonyms like "on purpose" or "deliberately" to diversify your writing while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on purpose

A common and straightforward alternative, emphasizing that the action was not accidental.

deliberately

Highlights a more thoughtful and planned aspect of the action.

purposely

Similar to 'on purpose' but can imply a stronger sense of resolve or determination.

by design

Implies that the action was planned or arranged in advance.

knowingly

Indicates awareness and understanding of the action's consequences.

consciously

Highlights that the action was done with full awareness and intent.

with full intent

Emphasizes the determination and purpose behind the action.

by choice

Indicates that the action was a deliberate selection from available options.

with premeditation

Suggests the action was planned long in advance, often used in legal contexts.

in a calculated manner

Implies the action was carefully considered and executed for a specific outcome.

FAQs

What does "intentionally" mean?

"Intentionally" means doing something on purpose or deliberately. It indicates that an action was performed with a specific goal or plan in mind, rather than accidentally or without awareness.

What can I say instead of "intentionally"?

You can use alternatives like "on purpose", "deliberately", or "purposely" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "intentionally" in formal writing?

Yes, "intentionally" is perfectly appropriate for formal writing. It's a clear and precise way to indicate that an action was done on purpose. However, consider /s/deliberately as a slightly more refined alternative.

What is the difference between "intentionally" and "accidentally"?

"Intentionally" means doing something on purpose, while "accidentally" means doing something without intending to, or by mistake. They are direct antonyms.