intention
Americannoun
-
an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result.
-
the end or object intended; purpose.
- Synonyms:
- goal
-
intentions,
-
purpose or attitude toward the effect of one's actions or conduct.
a bungler with good intentions.
-
purpose or attitude with respect to marriage.
Our friends are beginning to ask what our intentions are.
-
-
the act or fact of intending.
-
Logic.
-
Also called first intention,. Also called primary intention. reference by signs, concepts, etc., to concrete things, their properties, classes, or the relationships among them.
-
Also called second intention,. Also called secondary intention. reference to properties, classes, or the relationships among first intentions.
-
-
Surgery, Medicine/Medical. a manner or process of healing, as in the healing of a lesion or fracture without granulation healing by first intention or the healing of a wound by granulation after suppuration healing by second intention.
-
meaning or significance.
The intention of his words was clear.
-
the person or thing meant to benefit from a prayer or religious offering.
-
Archaic. intentness.
noun
-
a purpose or goal; aim
it is his intention to reform
-
law the resolve or design with which a person does or refrains from doing an act, a necessary ingredient of certain offences
-
med a natural healing process, as by first intention , in which the edges of a wound cling together with no tissue between, or by second intention , in which the wound edges adhere with granulation tissue
-
(usually plural) design or purpose with respect to a proposal of marriage (esp in the phrase honourable intentions )
-
an archaic word for meaning intentness
Synonym Usage
Intention, intent, purpose all refer to a wish that one means to carry out. Intention is the general word: His intention is good. Intent is chiefly legal or literary: attack with intent to kill. Purpose implies having a goal or determination to achieve something: Her strong sense of purpose is reflected in her studies.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of intention
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English intencio(u)n, from Latin intentiōn- (stem of intentiō ). See intent 2, -ion
Explanation
An intention is idea that you plan (or intend) to carry out. If you mean something, it's an intention. Your goal, purpose, or aim is your intention. It's something you mean to do, whether you pull it off or not. You may have the best intention of cooking an incredible meal, but if you leave the burner on and burn the house down, you will not be remembered as an excellent chef. When a father asks his daughter's boyfriend "What are your intentions?" that means something specific: Does he want to marry her?
Vocabulary lists containing intention
List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In December 2015, the couple’s happily-ever-after image shattered with the publication of Chey’s intention to seek a “clean end” with his wife.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Your stepmother may have no intention of leaving the house to any of her late husband’s children.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
Whatever the intention and ultimate outcome, the news failed to deter Chinese tech companies Tuesday.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa had previously said that his country had no intention to intervene in Lebanon, despite Trump's repeated calls for him to do so.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
“And I’ve no intention of starting any wild rumors, especially ones that might trouble the sleep of poor Miss Lumley! Surely she’s had enough excitement already.”
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
With all our resources and good intentions, California can’t continue to let predators win simply because they’re more organized.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
“That remains the case today,” Co-CEO Ted Sarandos says during a call with analysts, acknowledging that others will speculate about their acquisition intentions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
If machines cannot interpret the unspoken context behind human intentions, reliably aligning advanced AI systems with human goals may prove impossible.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
Charles and Caroline mourn their part in that displacement; they set out for Kansas with the best of intentions, lured by false advertisements of “free” land that never was.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026
Then, just to be clear about her intentions, she extended her two hands, palms up, and added, “We come in peace.”
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.