intend

/ɪnˈtɛnd/

/ɪnˈtɛnd/

Other forms: intended; intending; intends

If you intend to do something, you mean to do it or have it in mind as a goal. Do you plan on getting your holiday cards in the mail before February this year? Then you intend on getting them out early.

The world is full of good intentions, meaning there are lots of people who intend to be nice, eat better, floss more, or pick up their dirty socks. But things don't always go as planned. Your actions could produce results that you didn't expect, specify, or ever intend — that might explain the well-known proverb, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Definitions of intend

1. verb

   have in mind as a purpose
   synonyms: mean, think

   types:

   design

   intend or have as a purpose

   be after, plan

   have the will and intention to carry out some action

   aim, propose, purport, purpose

   propose or intend

   think out

   consider carefully and rationally

   aim, aspire, draw a bead on, shoot for

   have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal

   go for, hope

   intend with some possibility of fulfilment
2. verb

   design or destine
   “She was intended to become the director”

   synonyms: designate, destine, specify

   types:

   mean

   destine or designate for a certain purpose

   design

   plan something for a specific role or purpose or effect

   slate

   designate or schedule

   aim, calculate, direct

   specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public

   type of:

   plan

   make plans for something
3. verb

   mean or intend to express or convey
   “what do his words intend?”

   synonyms: mean

   types:

   emblematize, represent, stand for, symbolise, symbolize, typify

   express indirectly by an image, form, or model; be a symbol

   signify

   convey or express a meaning

   import, spell

   indicate or signify

   aim

   direct (a remark) toward an intended goal

   aim, drive, get

   move into a desired direction of discourse

   be, embody, personify

   represent, as of a character on stage

   epitomise, epitomize, typify

   embody the essential characteristics of or be a typical example of

   type of:

   convey

   make known; pass on, of information
4. verb

   denote or connote
   synonyms: mean, signify, stand for

   signify

   convey or express a meaning

   types:

   denote, refer

   have as a meaning

   convolute, pervert, sophisticate, twist, twist around

   practice sophistry; change the meaning of or be vague about in order to mislead or deceive

   euphemise, euphemize

   refer to something with a euphemism

   come back, hark back, recall, return, rewind

   go back to something earlier

   identify, name

   give the name or identifying characteristics of; refer to by name or some other identifying characteristic property

   apply

   refer (a word or name) to a person or thing

   slur

   speak disparagingly of; e.g., make a racial slur

   express, state

   indicate through a symbol, formula, etc.