Intention

/ɪnˈtɛnʃn̩/ · noun

Meaning

A course of action that a person intends to follow..

Definitions by Sense

1. A course of action that a person intends to follow.
2. The goal or purpose.
3. (obsolete) Tension; straining, stretching.
4. (obsolete) A stretching or bending of the mind toward an object or a purpose (an intent); closeness of application; fixedness of attention; earnestness.
5. (obsolete) The object toward which the thoughts are directed; end; aim.
6. (obsolete) Any mental apprehension of an object.
7. (medicine) The process of the healing of a wound.
8. To intend.

Example Sentences

My intention was to marry a wealthy widow.

It’s easy to promise anything when you have no intention of fulfilling any of it.

a. 1784, attributed to Samuel Johnson Hell is paved with good intentions.

“My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. ¶ Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. ¶ “Quite so,” he said as dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were known your life would not be worth a curse.”

It had been his intention to go to Wimbledon, but as he himself said: “Why be blooming well frizzled when you can hear all the results over the wireless. And results are all that concern me.[…]”

The intention of this legislation is to boost the economy.

Though most of the cases here cover European encounters with non-Europeans, it is not the intention of the book to give the impression that genocide is a function of European colonialism and imperialism alone.

cold in those inner parts, cold belly, and hot liver, causeth crudity, and intention proceeds from perturbations […].

Synonyms for intention

Antonyms for intention

Related Words

Word Forms

• intentions
• entention
• intentioning
• intentioned

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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