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Definition of intention noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

intention

noun
 OPAL W
 
/ɪnˈtenʃn/
 
/ɪnˈtenʃn/
[countable, uncountable]
Word Family
  • intend verb
  • intended adjective (≠ unintended)
  • intention noun
  • intentional adjective (≠ unintentional)
  • intentionally adverb (≠ unintentionally)
Idioms
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  1. what you intend or plan to do; your aim
    • intention of doing something I have no intention of going to the wedding.
    • I have every intention of paying her back what I owe her.
    • with the intention of doing something She left England with the intention of travelling in Africa.
    • intention to do something He has announced his intention to retire.
    • The Prime Minister declared her intention to remain in office despite declining support.
    • The original intention was to devote three months to the project.
    • intention in doing something His intentions in making this proposal are clear.
    • intention that… It was not my intention that she should suffer.
    • She's full of good intentions but they rarely work out.
    • I did it with the best (of) intentions (= meaning to help), but I only succeeded in annoying them.
    Synonyms purposepurposeaim ▪ intention ▪ plan ▪ point ▪ ideaThese are all words for talking about what somebody/​something intends to do or achieve.purpose what something is supposed to achieve; what somebody is trying to achieve:
    • Our campaign’s main purpose is to raise money.
    aim what somebody is trying to achieve; what something is supposed to achieve:
    • She went to London with the aim of finding a job.
    • Our main aim is to increase sales in Europe.
     purpose or aim?Your purpose for doing something is your reason for doing it; your aim is what you want to achieve. Aim can suggest that you are only trying to achieve something; purpose gives a stronger sense of achievement being certain. Aim can be somebody’s aim or the aim of something. Purpose is more usually the purpose of something: you can talk about somebody’s purpose but that is more formal.intention what you intend to do:
    • I have no intention of going to the wedding.
    • She’s full of good intentions but they rarely work out.
    plan what you intend to do or achieve:
    • There are no plans to build new offices.
     intention or plan?Your intentions are what you want to do, especially in the near future; your plans are what you have decided or arranged to do, often, but not always, in the longer term.point (rather informal) the purpose or aim of something:
    • What’s the point of all this violence?
    • The point of the lesson is to compare the two countries.
    idea (rather informal) the purpose of something; somebody’s aim:
    • The whole idea of going was so that we could meet her new boyfriend.
    • What’s the idea behind this?
     point or idea?Point is a more negative word than idea. If you say What’s the point…? you are suggesting that there is no point; if you say What’s the idea…? you are genuinely asking a question. Point, but not idea, is used to talk about things you feel annoyed or unhappy about: There’s no idea in… • I don’t see the idea of…. Patterns
    • with the purpose/​aim/​intention/​idea of doing something
    • somebody’s intention/​plan to do something
    • to have a(n) purpose/​aim/​intention/​plan/​point
    • to achieve/​fulfil a(n) purpose/​aim
    see also well intentioned
    Extra Examples
    • He didn't make his intentions clear in his letter.
    • Her intention in inviting us to dinner was to persuade us to back her project.
    • I have no intention of changing jobs.
    • I went straight home with the intention of having an early night.
    • It was done with the best intentions, I assure you.
    • My original intention was to study all morning, but this turned out to be impractical.
    • She may never reveal her true intentions.
    • The council has announced its intention to crack down on parking offences.
    • The general intention behind the project is a good one.
    • The intention by the local authority to build 2 000 new houses is unrealistic.
    • The senator has announced his intention to run for the presidency.
    • We have every intention of winning the next election.
    • Such an interpretation of the Act seems to be contrary to the intention of Parliament.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • original
    • declared
    • stated
    • …
    verb + intention
    • have
    • announce
    • declare
    • …
    preposition
    • with an/​the intention of
    • intention behind
    • intention by
    • …
    phrases
    • the best intentions
    • good intentions
    • have every intention of doing something
    • …
    See full entry
    Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French entencion, from Latin intentio(n-) ‘stretching, purpose’, from intendere ‘intend, extend, direct’, from in- ‘towards’ + tendere ‘stretch, tend’.
Idioms
the road to hell is paved with good intentions
  1. (saying) it is not enough to intend to do good things; you must actually do them
See intention in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee intention in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: intention

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
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