intends - Master This Word
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intends Word Meanings
- to plan or aim for something
- to have a purpose in mind
- to mean or signify something
intends Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
intends Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ɪnˈtɛnd/
US
/ɪnˈtɛnd/
intends Word Etymology
in- = within + tend = stretch/guide; From Latin *intendere*, meaning 'to stretch toward' which evolved into Old French before entering English. Imagine focusing your energy toward a goal, like stretching your arms to grasp something in the distance.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
First I turn my attention, nudging away noise and setting a direction in my mind. I move toward a plan, watching it shift as I test steps and adjust along the way. It feels like holding a thread and guiding it through a maze, a steady pull of focus and effort. In real life, this is how I intend to act—keeping my actions aligned with the goal I have chosen.
Real Context
Intend is a verb that signals a deliberate plan or aim for something, a purpose in mind, or the meaning implied by a statement in formal usage. It is typically followed by to-infinitive (intend to do something) to express a future action you have decided to pursue, rather than a simple wish. The sense is more decisive than want and less casual than plan in many contexts, making it common in business, policy, and official writing. Etymology traces back to Latin intendere, literally 'to stretch toward,' which evokes focusing energy toward a goal. Remember that you rarely use intend with a gerund, and you can contrast it with mean or plan to capture nuance.
Usage Reminders
- Plan to + infinitive; avoid -ing after intend; use 'intend to' for future actions; keep tone formal in writing; compare with 'mean to' and 'plan to' to choose the right nuance; remember it rarely takes a direct object.
Common Misconceptions
- Intend is not the same as plan or want; it is more formal and future-oriented.
- Do not use intend to + verb for past actions.
- Mixing up mean with intend: mean is about definition or what something signifies.
- Mistaking intend to mean something ol like 'intend that' is rare; prefer 'intended to' only in specific cases.
- Believe 'intend' can take a direct object; it usually cannot.
Thinking Differences
To English speakers, intend often signals a firm plan or purpose that is formal or official in tone. It implies a decision has been made and a path is planned, not merely wished for. Learners may overuse it in casual speech or substitute with plan, wish, or mean inappropriately.
Learning Tips
- Learn common collocations: intend to + verb; contrast with plan to and mean to.
- Use in formal writing to express decided actions.
- Remember it does not take a direct object.
- Practice with future-oriented contexts (business, policy).
- Notice pronunciation stress on second syllable.
- Check subtle difference from intend when you want to emphasize purpose vs decision.
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
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