3 syllables: in, tent, ly. Stress on tent.
in-TENT-lee
/ˌɪˈntɛntli/
intently is pronounced in-TENT-lee (/ˌɪˈntɛntli/). It has three syllables (in-tent-ly), with the stress on "tent". Intently describes doing something with close, concentrated attention or focus. It implies sustained mental effort directed toward a task or object, often with heightened awareness or watchfulness. The adverb form modifies actions to emphasize purposeful, attentive engagement rather than casual observation.
Intently describes doing something with close, concentrated attention or focus. It implies sustained mental effort directed toward a task or object, often with heightened awareness or watchfulness. The adverb form modifies actions to emphasize purposeful, attentive engagement rather than casual observation.
"She watched the screen intently, trying to discern the faint details."
"He listened intently to the lecture, taking careful notes."
"They studied the map intently, searching for the quickest route."
Intently is pronounced with three syllables: in-TENT-ly. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: ɪnˈtɛn(t)li (US/UK). Start with an initial short /ɪ/ sound, then a clear /t/ before a stressed /ɛn/ vowel, and end with a light /li/. In careful speech, you’ll articulate the /t/ crisply; in fast speech, it may become a glottal stop before the -ly ending. Audio reference: compare /ɪnˈtɛn(t)li/ in major dictionaries; you can also listen on Forvo or YouGlish for native pointers.
Common mistakes: 1) misplacing stress, saying in-TEN-tlee; 2) spitting the /t/ resulting in a staccato break or a strong alveolar stop that sounds forced; 3) dragging the final /li/ so it sounds like -ly with a separate syllable. Corrections: place primary stress on the second syllable (ɪnˈtɛn(t)li), use a crisp /t/ before the /ɛn/ vowel, and keep the final /li/ light with a short schwa-like vowel reduction if natural in rapid speech.
US: ɪnˈtɛn(t)li with rhotic-era vowel quality; UK: ɪnˈtɛn(t)li, sometimes a slightly shorter second syllable and a more clipped /t/; AU: ɪnˈtɛn(t)li with a flatter intonation and a softer final /iː/ or /ɪ/ depending on speaker. Across accents, the position of the primary stress remains on the second syllable, but vowel quality in /e/ (æ vs ɛ) and the realization of the final /li/ can vary. IPA remains close to /ɪnˈtɛn(t)li/ in all three, with minor vowel height adjustments.
It’s tricky because the word combines a strong syllable boundary after the first syllable with a reduced, light ending. The /t/ sits between two vowels, which can tempt pronunciation as in-TEN-tlee rather than in-ˈtɛn(t)li. Also, the final -ly can be syllabic or light; keeping the middle /t/ crisp and the ending brief helps maintain natural intonation and rhythm.
A distinctive feature is the optional pronunciation of the first consonant cluster across rapid speech: some speakers reduce the /t/ slightly toward a soft flap in casual speech, but in careful speech you should maintain a clear /t/ before the stressed syllable. This keeps the word intelligible in fast conversation and aligns with standard dictionaries’ articulation guidance.
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Intently derives from the adjective intense, formed from Latin intensus “stro ng, stretched, strained,” from in- “toward, into” and tendere “to stretch, extend.” In English, the adverbial suffix -ly attaches to an adjective, producing intensely from intense. The word began appearing in Middle English via Old French and Latin roots, with early uses in the sense of “with intense emotion or ardor.” Over time, the form intently emerged to describe actions performed with intense focus or attention. The semantic shift from emotional intensity to cognitive focus tracked with 18th–19th century usage, paralleling other -ently adverbs such as gently, rapidly, and 0tently. The first known attestations reflect a sense of deliberate, concentrated attention applied to observation or action, rather than mere duration. Today, intently is common in both spoken and written English, signaling purposeful concentration. In print, it often accompanies verbs of perception (watch, listen, study) to emphasize thorough engagement. Historically, its usage has remained stable, with the nuance of active, careful attention across registers from formal writing to narrative prose. The word’s etymology highlights a path from physical intensity to cognitive intention, anchored by the Latin tendere root and the French/English evolution of adverbial -ly suffixation.
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Words that rhyme with "intently"
-lly sounds
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