intend
ihn-TEHND
Intend (verb) means to have a plan or purpose in mind to do something. Example: “What do you intend to do after you finish college?”
verb
1
To have a plan or purpose in mind to do something.
"What do you intend to do after you finish college?"
"We intend to visit Japan next spring."
"She didn't intend to hurt anyone's feelings."
How to use intend
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo plan or mean to do something.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
intend to do
intended purpose
what I intended
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- intends
- Past tense
- intended
- Archaic forms
- intendest, intendedst, intendeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
What do you _____ to do after you finish college?
Etymology
From Old French entendre, from Latin intendere, "to stretch toward, direct one's attention" (in-, "toward" + tendere, "to stretch").
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “intend” mean?
The word “intend” means to have a plan or purpose in mind to do something. In plain terms, to plan or mean to do something.
How do you pronounce “intend”?
“Intend” is pronounced ihn-TEHND (/ɪnˈtɛnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “intend” in a sentence?
Here is “intend” used in a sentence: “We intend to visit Japan next spring.”
What part of speech is “intend”?
“Intend” is a verb.
Where does the word “intend” come from?
The word “intend” comes from Latin. From Old French entendre, from Latin intendere, "to stretch toward, direct one's attention" (in-, "toward" + tendere, "to stretch").
Is “intend” a common word?
“Intend” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
Is it 'intend to do' or 'intend doing'?
Both are grammatical: 'I intend to leave early' and 'I intend leaving early'. The infinitive pattern 'intend to do' is far more common in both British and American English, so it is the safer choice in writing. The meaning is the same in either pattern.
What is the difference between intend and plan?
To intend something is to have a purpose in mind, while to plan usually implies working out the practical steps as well. You can intend to travel more without having planned anything; once you book the flights, you have a plan. Intend is also slightly more formal.
What is the difference between intend and mean?
In the sense of purpose, they overlap: 'I didn't mean to upset you' and 'I didn't intend to upset you' are both natural. Mean is the everyday word in speech, especially in apologies, while intend is more formal and common in careful or legal writing.
Is the noun of intend 'intent' or 'intention'?
Both nouns relate to intend. Intention is the everyday word for a plan or purpose, as in 'she has no intention of resigning', while intent is more formal or legal, as in 'criminal intent' or 'with intent to deceive'. In most ordinary contexts, intention is the natural choice.
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