intend

verb in·tend \ in-ˈtend \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of intend

transitive verb

1 : to direct the mind on

2 archaic : to proceed on (a course)

3 a : signify, mean

b : to refer to

4 a : to have in mind as a purpose or goal : plan

b : 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

In October, North Carolina wrote Mr. Megaro a check for $1.5 million, half intended for each client, tax-free.

— joseph neff, New York Times, "They Did 30 Years for Someone Else’s Crime. Then Paid for It.," 7 Apr. 2018
Klein has drawn heavily on some 40 hours of interviews, filmed by Anton Perich, with R. Couri Hay and James in 1977, shortly before his death, and intended for another autobiography that also never materialized.

— hamish bowles, Vogue, "Was Charles James Fashion’s Most Unreasonable Man? A New Biography Makes the Case," 5 Apr. 2018
Northfield Park, on the border of Summit and Cuyahoga counties, opened in 1934 as Sportsman's Park, intended for greyhound racing.

— karen farkas, cleveland.com, "Hard Rock Rocksino expected to be sold for $1.06 billion," 5 Apr. 2018
Over a period of years, former Fiat Chrysler executive Al Iacobelli and former UAW Vice President General Holiefield helped to save Chrysler and then stole millions intended for worker training, authorities say.

— tresa baldas, Detroit Free Press, "Fiat Chrysler exec charged in FCA-UAW scandal," 4 Apr. 2018
Many #NeverAgain activists, who mobilized after the February 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, are calling for a ban on the assault-style rifles for which the magazines are intended.

— brandon griggs, CNN, "Gun-rights supporters hand out rifle magazines at a rally in Vermont," 2 Apr. 2018
Todd Rosenberg The symphony will continue the centennial celebration of Leonard Bernstein with his Chichester Psalms, including music initially intended for the Broadway stage.

— dan kelly, kansascity, "April is for arts in KC: from Kevin Hart to KC Ballet’s ‘Diamonds’ to ‘Vietgone’ | The Kansas City Star," 2 Apr. 2018
Those signs, intended for peaceful rallying, were in use on March 28, 1968, when King led a march that turned violent.

— adelle m. banks, Houston Chronicle, "Remembering King’s last sermon with renewed hope," 1 Apr. 2018
Some are low-income and historically marginalized students, like Moore, for whom the scholarship was originally intended.

— the hechinger report, NOLA.com, "How Louisiana's students came to rely on TOPS, and what might happen now," 27 Mar. 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

intend Synonyms

Synonyms

aim, aspire, calculate, contemplate, design, look, mean, meditate, plan, propose, purport, purpose;

Related Words

dream, hope, wish;

consider, debate, mull (over), ponder;

attempt, endeavor, strive, struggle, try;

plot, scheme;

accomplish, achieve, effect, execute, perform;

Phrases

figure on;

INTEND Defined for English Language Learners

intend

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