Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense intends, present participle intending, past tense, past participle intended
1. verb
If you intend to do something, you have decided or planned to do it.
She intends to do A levels and go to university. [VERB to-infinitive]
I didn't intend coming to Germany to work. [VERB verb-ing]
We had always intended that the new series would be live. [VERB that]
Synonyms: plan, mean, aim, determine More Synonyms of intend
2. verb [usually passive]
If something is intended for a particular purpose, it has been planned to fulfil that purpose. If something is intended for a particular person, it has been planned to be used by that person or to affect them in some way.
This money is intended for the development of the tourist industry. [beVERB-ed + for]
Columns are usually intended in architecture to add grandeur and status. [beVERB-ed to-infinitive]
Originally, Hatfield had been intended as a leisure complex. [beVERB-ed + as]
Synonyms: destine, mean, design, earmark More Synonyms of intend
3. verb
If you intend a particular idea or feeling in something that you say or do, you want to express it or want it to be understood.
He didn't intend any sarcasm. [VERB noun]
His response seemed a little patronizing, though he undoubtedly hadn't intended itthat way. [VERB noun noun]
This sounds like a barrage of accusation–I don't intend it to be. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
I think he intended it as a put-down comment. [VERB noun preposition]
intend in British English
(ɪnˈtɛnd)
verb
1. (may take a clause as object)
to propose or plan (something or to do something); have in mind; mean
2. (transitive; often foll byfor)
to design or destine (for a certain purpose, person, etc)
that shot was intended for the President
3. (transitive)
to mean to express or indicate
what do her words intend?
4. (intransitive)
to have a purpose as specified; mean
he intends well
5. (transitive) archaic
to direct or turn (the attention, eyes, etc)
Derived forms
intender (inˈtender)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin intendere to stretch forth, give one's attention to, from tendere to stretch
intend in American English
(ɪnˈtɛnd)
verb transitive
1.
to have in mind as a purpose; plan
2.
to mean (something) to be or be used (for); design; destine
a cake intended for the party
3.
to mean or signify
4. Archaic
to direct or turn (the mind, eyes, thoughts, etc.)
5. Law
to construe or interpret legally
verb intransitive
6.
to have a purpose or intention
SYNONYMY NOTE: intend implies a having in mind of something to be done, said, etc. [I intended to write you]; mean1, a more general word, does not connote so clearly a specific, deliberate purpose[he always means well]; design suggests careful planning in order to bring about a particular result [their delay was designed to forestall suspicion]; propose implies a clear declaration, openly or to oneself, of one's intention [I propose to speak for an hour]; purpose adds to , propose a connotation of strong determination to effect one's intention [he purposes to become a doctor]
Derived forms
intender (inˈtender)
noun
Word origin
ME entenden < OFr entendre < L intendere, to stretch out for, aim at < in-, in, at + tendere, to stretch: see thin
Examples of 'intend' in a sentence
intend
It was not intended that way.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I always intended to return.
The Sun (2016)
The comment was not intended for broadcast.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We always intended for this race to be her first of the year.
The Sun (2009)
Its design and use vary according to which of these purposes it is intended to serve.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
We must not allow fear to affect or sway the way we intend to vote.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
None of these comments were intended for publication and they should have stayed that way.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She did not always intend to be such a consensual leader.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They are in fact using the tax system in the way intended.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She always intends to run in the morning but usually just manages to watch sport instead.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
For their part they seemed more than satisfied at the way we intended to do things.
Stewart, Bob (Lt-Col) Broken Lives (1993)
She always intended to end it in some way.
Frances Hodgson Burnett Emily Fox-Seton (1901)
Allow your body to work the way nature intended.
Hopkins, Tom The Guide to Greatness in Sales (1994)
He always intended to pay the money back but it spiralled out of control.
The Sun (2016)
Did she always intend to go back to him?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
For the intended purpose and at the price, a tidy little addition to your training accessories.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The result is entertaining, although not always in the way intended.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He doesn't intend to give way to that.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The appointment to the board was intended by the President to be phase one of a meteoric promotion.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He said he regretted the misunderstanding, and had not intended that his comments would be otherwise interpreted.
John Freely JEM SULTAN: The Adventures of a Captive Turkish Prince in Renaissance Europe (2004)
His comments seem intended to lend weight to his argument that he acted with the tacit approval of bank executives, according to lawyers.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You had the overwhelming feeling that he did not want, nor intend, to be there.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
When it became apparent that Olly intended no comment, she went on.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
He said his comments were not intended as interference in Turkey's internal affairs.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It said: 'We have always been clear that the leaders of this project did not want or intend to use this data.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
intend
British English: intend /ɪnˈtɛnd/ VERB
If you intend to do something, you have decided or planned to do it.
She intends to go to university.
American English: intend to
Arabic: يَعْتَزِمُ
Brazilian Portuguese: pretender
Chinese: 打算
Croatian: namjeravati
Czech: hodlat
Danish: have til hensigt
Dutch: van plan zijn
European Spanish: tener la intención de
Finnish: aikoa
French: avoir l’intention de
German: beabsichtigen
Greek: σκοπεύω να
Italian: avere intenzione
Japanese: ･･･するつもりだ
Korean: ...할 작정이다
Norwegian: mene
Polish: zamierzyć
European Portuguese: tencionar
Romanian: a intenționa
Russian: намереваться
Latin American Spanish: tener la intención de
Swedish: avse att planera
Thai: ตั้งใจที่จะ
Turkish: niyetlenmek
Ukrainian: мати намір
Vietnamese: có ý định
British English: intend VERB
If you intend to do something, you have decided or planned to do it.
She intends to go to university.
American English: intend
Brazilian Portuguese: pretender
Chinese: 打算
European Spanish: pretender (hacer algo)
French: avoir l'intention
German: beabsichtigen
Italian: intendere
Japanese: つもりである
Korean: ~할 작정이다
European Portuguese: pretender
Latin American Spanish: pretender (hacer algo)
Chinese translation of 'intend'
intend
(ɪnˈtɛnd)
vt
to intend to do sth打算做某事 (dǎsuàn zuò mǒushì)
to intend doing sth打算做某事 (dǎsuàn zuò mǒushì)
to intend that ... 打算 ... (dǎsuàn ... )
to be intended to do sth用来(來)做某事 (yònglái zuò mǒushì)
to be intended for sb/sth[gift, money]专(專)门(門)用于(於)某人/某事 (zhuānmén yòng yú mǒurén/mǒushì)
to be intended as sth[announcement, declaration]被有意作为(為)某物 (bèi yǒuyì zuòwéi mǒuwù)
1 (verb)
Definition
to have as one's purpose
She intends to do A levels and go to university.
Synonyms
plan
They plan to move house next year.
mean
I didn't mean to hurt you.
aim
I didn't aim to get caught.
determine
scheme
propose
I propose to spend my entire life travelling.
purpose
His life went in the direction that he purposed.
contemplate
He contemplated a career as an army medical doctor.
envisage
foresee
be resolved or determined
have in mind or view
2 (verb)
Definition
to design or destine (for a certain purpose or person)
This money is intended for the development of the tourist industry.
Synonyms
destine
mean
He said that we were meant to be together.
design
a compromise designed to please everyone
earmark
The factory was one of several earmarked for closure.
consign
aim
mark out
set apart
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aim
Definition
to propose or intend
I didn't aim to get caught.
Synonyms
mean,
attempt,
propose,
intend,
resolve,
purpose
in the sense of contemplate
Definition
to consider as a possibility
He contemplated a career as an army medical doctor.