intending

US: (in ten′ding)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•tend•ing  (in ten′ding), adj. 

1. designing or aiming to be;
   prospective or aspiring:
   intending surgeons.

• intend + -ing² 1650–60

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•tend /ɪnˈtɛnd/   v. 

1. to have in mind as something to be done;
   aim: [~ + to + verb]
   [usually not: be + ~-ing] We intend to leave in a month.
   [~ + verb-ing]
   He had not intended staying for another week.
2. to mean for a particular purpose: [~ + object]
   [not: be + ~-ing] The fund was intended for emergency use only.
   [~ + object + as + object]
   I intended the computer programs as aids to the teacher.
   [~ + object + to + verb]
   I intended the programs to be aids to the teacher.
   [~ + that clause]
   I intended that the programs should be used as teaching aids.
3. (of words, terms, statements, etc.) to mean or signify:
   [~ + object* not: be + ~-ing;

   often: be + ~-ed + by]

   I'm sorry about those remarks; no insult was intended by them.

See -tend-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•tend  (in tend′), v.t. 

1. to have in mind as something to be done or brought about;
   plan:
   We intend to leave in a month.
2. to design or mean for a particular purpose, use, recipient, etc.:
   a fund intended for emergency use only.
3. to design to express or indicate, as by one's words;
   refer to.
4. (of words, terms, statements, etc.) to mean or signify.
5. [Archaic.] to direct (the eyes, mind, etc.).

v.i. 

6. to have a purpose or design.
7. [Obs.] to set out on one's course.

• Latin, as above
• Old French entendre
• Latin intendere to stretch towards, aim at (see in-², tend¹); replacing Middle English entenden
• 1250–1300

in•tend′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. contemplate, expect, aim, purpose.
  Intend, mean, design, propose imply knowing what one wishes to do and setting this as a goal. To intend is to have in mind something to be done or brought about:
  No offense was intended.
  Mean is a less formal word than intend but otherwise a close synonym:
  He means to go away.
  Design implies planning to effect a particular result:
  to design a plan for Christmas decorations.
  Propose suggests setting up a program for oneself or offering it to others for consideration:
  We propose to beautify our city.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

intend / ɪnˈtɛnd/ verb

1. (may take a clause as object) to propose or plan (something or to do something); have in mind; mean
2. (transitive) often followed by for: to design or destine (for a certain purpose, person, etc)
3. (transitive) to mean to express or indicate: what do her words intend?
4. (intransitive) to have a purpose as specified; mean: he intends well

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin intendere to stretch forth, give one's attention to, from tendere to stretch

inˈtender noun