- (may take a clause as object) to propose or plan (something or to do something); have in mind; mean
- (transitive) often followed by for: to design or destine (for a certain purpose, person, etc)
- (transitive) to mean to express or indicate: what do her words intend?
- (intransitive) to have a purpose as specified; mean: he intends well
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•tend /ɪnˈtɛnd/USA pronunciation
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to have in mind as something to be done;
aim: [~ + to + verb][usually not: be + ~-ing]We intend to leave in a month.[~ + verb-ing]He had not intended staying for another week. - to mean for a particular purpose: [~ + object][not: be + ~-ing]The fund was intended for emergency use only.[~ + object + as + object]I intended the computer programs as aids to the teacher.[~ + object + to + verb]I intended the programs to be aids to the teacher.[~ + that clause]I intended that the programs should be used as teaching aids.
- (of words, terms, statements, etc.) to mean or signify:[~ + object;not: be + ~-ing;often: be + ~-ed + by]I'm sorry about those remarks; no insult was intended by them.
in•tend
(in tend′),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
in•tend′er, n.
- to have in mind as something to be done or brought about;
plan:We intend to leave in a month. - to design or mean for a particular purpose, use, recipient, etc.:a fund intended for emergency use only.
- to design to express or indicate, as by one's words;
refer to. - (of words, terms, statements, etc.) to mean or signify.
- [Archaic.]to direct (the eyes, mind, etc.).
v.i.
- to have a purpose or design.
- [Obs.]to set out on one's course.
- Latin, as above
- Old French entendre
- Latin intendere to stretch towards, aim at (see in-2, tend1); replacing Middle English entenden
- 1250–1300
- 1. contemplate, expect, aim, purpose. Intend, mean, design, propose imply knowing what one wishes to do and setting this as a goal. To intend is to have in mind something to be done or brought about:No offense was intended.Mean is a less formal word than intend but otherwise a close synonym:He means to go away.Design implies planning to effect a particular result:to design a plan for Christmas decorations.Propose suggests setting up a program for oneself or offering it to others for consideration:We propose to beautify our city.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
intend /ɪnˈtɛnd/ vb
'intend' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
aim
- design
- destine
- devise
- drive at
- get at
- go
- in
- intense
- intent
- mean
- plan
- propose
- purpose
- automaton
- borrow
- calculate
- contemplate
- double entendre
- drive
- entente
- hop
- intendancy
- intendant
- intended
- intending
- intendment
- meditate
- mint
- misintend
- preintend
- purport
- quasi-intended
- report
- unintended
- ween
- yet
- shall
- superintend