INTEND

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does intend mean? 

• INTEND (verb)
  The verb INTEND has 4 senses:

1. have in mind as a purpose

2. design or destine

3. mean or intend to express or convey

4. denote or connote

  Familiarity information: INTEND used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INTEND (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they intend    ... he / she / it intends   
Past simple: intended   
Past participle: intended   
-ing form: intending   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Have in mind as a purpose

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

intend; mean; think

Context example:

We thought to return early that night

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "intend"):

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)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They intend to move

Derivation:

intent (an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions)

intention (an act of intending; a volition that you intend to carry out)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Design or destine

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

designate; destine; intend; specify

Context example:

She was intended to become the director

Hypernyms (to "intend" is one way to...):

plan (make plans for something)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "intend"):

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)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sense 3

Meaning:

Mean or intend to express or convey

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

intend; mean

Context example:

what do his words intend?

Hypernyms (to "intend" is one way to...):

convey ((of information) make known; pass on)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "intend"):

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)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

intent (the intended meaning of a communication)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Denote or connote

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

intend; mean; signify; stand for

Context example:

An example sentence would show what this word means

Verb group:

signify (convey or express a meaning)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "intend"):

denote; refer (have as a meaning)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

 Context examples 

I think that the cylinders which you gave me contained more than you intended me to know; but I can see that there are in your record many lights to this dark mystery.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

What do you intend doing with Leach and Johnson?

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

But in the end Buck’s pertinacity was rewarded; for the wolf, finding that no harm was intended, finally sniffed noses with him.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

“How fortunate we are, too,” I returned, to have arrived to witness their happiness in that intended marriage!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“All right, Watson, I don’t intend to meddle.”

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“To think that I had all that evidence in my hand and never knew it! I had intended, however, to go the round of the London opticians.”

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was patent that he intended to kill Hans and her.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

You did not tell me that you intended to go into harness.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Now, Mr. Malone, I have given you rather more of my time than I had intended.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He intended me to go with him to India.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)