intend

verb

in·​tend in-ˈtend 

intended; intending; intends

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

: signify, mean

b

: to refer to

3

: to direct the mind on

4

archaic : to proceed on (a course)

intransitive verb

archaic : set out, start

intender noun

Synonyms of intend

• plan
• mean
• hope
• contemplate
• aim
• wish
• try
• go

Examples of intend in a Sentence

I didn't intend any disrespect.

We intended that she come with us.

Recent Examples on the Web

Officials then sent a notice in February that the city intended to file for receivership if nuisance conditions weren’t addressed. — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026

Reyes and Chamberlain lied to the third man, whose name police redacted in the affidavit, by saying that Reyes intended only to fight Torrey one-on-one. — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026

Multiple audits have flagged a lack of oversight, while a task force of federal prosecutors have brought at least three fraud cases over the use of funds intended to help the homeless. — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026

The agent found an unexpected route out of the environment, which was intended to be isolated, reached the Internet and broke into Hugging Face to obtain hidden answers to the benchmark. — Chris Stokel-Walker, Scientific American, 22 July 2026

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

Rhymes for intend

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend
• depend

Kids Definition

intend

verb

in·​tend in-ˈtend 

: 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 

: to have in one's mind as a purpose or goal

did not intend to kill her