intend

Intend is a verb meaning to have a plan or purpose to do something, or to mean that a particular outcome is the goal of one’s actions. It conveys a determined aim or a future action that one plans to carry out. In more formal contexts, it can describe the designed purpose of a thing, such as a product or policy.

Etymology traces intend to the Latin intendere, literally “to stretch toward,” from in- “toward” and tendere “to stretch, to aim.” The sense of directing the mind toward a goal developed over time, giving rise to the modern usage of planning or meaning.

Common usage centers on the construction intend to + base verb, which expresses a future plan: “She intends to start college next year.” The phrase is also used with be intended to describe design or purpose: “The policy is intended to reduce emissions.” In addition, intend can take a direct object in the sense of harming or benefiting: “I did not intend any harm.” The expression with the prepositional phrase with the intent to is common in formal writing: “The agreement was signed with the intent to promote cooperation.”

Usage notes: prefer intend to for most future actions; some speakers use intend on, but it is considered less formal or regional. Intend contrasts with mean, which emphasizes what one intends in a sense of significance or implication rather than planned action.

Related forms include intention (noun), intentional and intentionally, and intended (past participle/adjective).