intend

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verb in·tend \in-ˈtend\

Definition of intend

transitive verb
1 : to direct the mind on
2 archaic : to proceed on (a course)
3a : signify, meanb : to refer to
4a : to have in mind as a purpose or goal : planb : to design for a specified use or future
intransitive verb
archaic : set out, start

intender

noun

See intend defined for English-language learners

See intend defined for kids

Examples of intend in a Sentence

I didn't intend any disrespect.
We intended that she come with us.

Recent Examples of intend from the Web

And the way the university responded to the protest clearly is intended to intimidate, to bully, to chill speech, to make people feel that anyone who even thinks about pushing back against one of these alt-wrong people is going to be slammed.

— conor friedersdorf, The Atlantic, "Suspensions for College Students Who Thwarted Free Speech," 19 July 2017
The adviser said the remarks were not intended to signal that Trump plans to fire Sessions.

— Washington Post, "Trump rages at Sessions in New York Times interview," 19 July 2017
There’s another Stockyards District asset that hasn’t been getting much public attention, and Haw intends to make that better known.

— diane stafford, kansascity, "KC’s next Crossroads: Branding part of the West Bottoms as the Stockyards District," 17 July 2017
A320 motherboards Brad Chacos These are your basic, no-frills AM4 motherboards, intended for budget systems and (presumably) affordable big-box PCs from the likes of Dell and HP.

— brad chacos, PCWorld, "AMD Ryzen motherboards explained: The crucial differences in every AM4 chipset," 17 July 2017
There was no question that most, if not all, were intending to reject the constituent assembly.

— cody weddle and jim wyss, miamiherald, "Venezuelans rebuke government in massive ‘symbolic’ vote," 16 July 2017
The moderate senators also want to know how McConnell intends to use $70 billion in the new bill to help lower-income Americans buy insurance.

— Fox News, "ObamaCare Repeal: Moderate GOP senators, key to health bill vote, ask for Medicaid changes," 15 July 2017
On today’s agenda is approval of a potentially historic new policy intended to decrease the high number of LAPD shootings.

— joe domanick, Los Angeles Magazine, "How the Police Commission Got the LAPD to Buy Into De-Escalation," 13 July 2017
Cheaper than that come curvaceous pillows (also with add-ons) intended to invite their human users into a fantasy dreamworld.

— The Economist, "BanyanNo one is well-served by sexism in Japan," 13 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'intend.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of intend

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

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First Known Use: 14th century

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INTEND Defined for English Language Learners

intend

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verb

Definition of intend for English Language Learners

: to plan or want to do (something) : to have (something) in your mind as a purpose or goal
: to plan for or want (someone or something) to do or be something
: to want (something that you control, provide, or have made) to be used for a particular purpose or by a particular person