WordGarden.iointention
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪntˈɛnʃən/
US
- /ˌɪnˈtɛntʃən/
Meanings
Noun
a plan, purpose, or aim
the meaning or effect someone means to convey
the way a wound heals, especially in phrases like first intention
Beyond the definition
An intention is what you have in mind when you do something - your purpose or goal. It is more than just thinking about doing something; it is the idea or plan behind your action. A child might have the intention of building a huge castle out of blocks, while an adult might have the intention of learning a new language. Sometimes intentions are spoken aloud ("My intention is to finish this project today!"), and sometimes they stay hidden inside us. But understanding someone's intention can help you understand why they do what they do. A good intention does not always lead to a good result, though - sometimes the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
The word "intention" refers to the purpose or plan behind what someone says or does. It is the mental state of meaning to do something or hoping to bring about a certain result. For example: "Her intention was to help those in need," or "He had no intention of causing harm."
Intention goes beyond simply wanting something. It suggests that a person has some purpose in mind and may have already chosen a direction, even if the plan is simple. You might have the intention of baking a cake for your friend's birthday, which means you mean to do it and may have even started gathering ingredients.
The concept of intention is important in many areas - law (where "intent" can be crucial in determining guilt), psychology (where people study motivation), and everyday communication. We often try to work out someone's intentions: "What was his intention in saying that?" or "I questioned her motives and intentions."
Sometimes, despite the best intentions, things do not go as planned. This is where the phrase "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" comes into play - meaning that kind or well-meant plans can still lead to bad results if they are not carefully thought through or carried out well.
So whether it is a grand ambition or a simple act of kindness, intention is the force behind our actions - the purpose we hold in mind as we move forward.
Examples
- 1
Clarifying motive
My intention was to help, not to criticize.
- 2
Career plans
She has no intention of leaving the company this year.
- Patternhave no intention of + -ing
definitely not plan to do it
- 3
Event planning
We arrived early with the intention of getting good seats.
- Patternwith the intention of + -ing
because you planned to do it
- 4
Institutional plan
The school announced its intention to hire more teachers.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Unhelpful advice
I understand your good intentions, but your advice made him feel worse.
- 6
Hidden purpose
What was the intention behind that question?
- Patternintention behind + question/action
the reason or purpose for it
- 7
Delayed reply
He opened the letter with every intention of replying right away.
- Patternwith every intention of + -ing
fully planning to do it
- 8
Mistaken help
She changed the plan with the best of intentions, but it caused more confusion.
- Phrasewith the best of intentions
meaning to help, even if the result is bad
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- intentionnoun
Forms
- intentionspluralnoun