intend

verb

in·​tend in-ˈtend How to pronounce intend (audio)
intended; intending; intends
Synonyms of intendnext

transitive verb

1
a
: to have in mind as a purpose or goal : plan
b
: to design for a specified use or future
2
a
b
: to refer to
3
: to direct the mind on
4
archaic : to proceed on (a course)
intender noun

Examples of intend in a Sentence

I didn't intend any disrespect. We intended that she come with us.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are many ways for things to go wrong, given the number of parties involved, from surrogates and intended parents to fertility clinics, attorneys, and escrow agencies. Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 11 May 2026 Chinese developers said the vehicles are intended for high-precision oceanographic surveys, seabed mapping and underwater reconnaissance. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026 Whether or not the signaling is explicitly intended by the US military or administration, the message is likely to be unsettling, to say the least, for Cuban officials. Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 10 May 2026 But Chinese officials told The Times that their president, Xi Jinping, intends to raise the matter as a top priority, knowing that only one person — Trump himself — speaks for the administration today. Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for intend

Word History

Etymology

Middle English entenden, intenden, from Anglo-French entendre, from Latin intendere to stretch out, direct, aim at, from in- + tendere to stretch — more at thin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of intend was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intend. Accessed 12 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

intend

verb
in·​tend in-ˈtend How to pronounce intend (audio)
: to have in mind as a purpose or aim : plan
intends to travel abroad next year

Legal Definition

intend

transitive verb
in·​tend in-ˈtend How to pronounce intend (audio)
: to have in one's mind as a purpose or goal
did not intend to kill her

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