intention
High frequencyFormal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
A plan or purpose in one's mind to do something.
The general meaning or purpose behind an action, law, or artistic work; also, in medicine, the natural healing process of a wound (e.g., 'healing by first intention').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Focuses on a mental state of planning or aiming, distinct from the physical action. Often implies a degree of deliberateness. Can be abstract (e.g., the intention of a law).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical difference. In UK English, 'with the intention of doing' is slightly more common than 'intending to do', though both are used in both varieties.
Connotations
Similarly neutral and formal in both dialects.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both UK and US corpora.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to have the intention of [gerund]to have every intention of [gerund]with the intention of [gerund]to do something with the best intentionsto announce/declare/state one's intention to [infinitive]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”
- “hell is full of good meanings and intentions”
- “with the best of intentions”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in strategy and planning: 'Our intention is to launch the product in Q4.'
Academic
Used to discuss the purpose of a study or argument: 'The author's primary intention was to challenge the prevailing theory.'
Everyday
Used for personal plans: 'I have no intention of going out in this rain.'
Technical
In philosophy of mind, it refers to the aboutness of mental states. In law, 'legislative intention' is key to statutory interpretation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company intends to hire locally.
- I fully intend to finish this today.
American English
- We intend to file the paperwork next week.
- She did not intend for him to find out.
adverb
British English
- He intentionally left the door unlocked.
- The remark was intentionally vague.
American English
- She intentionally avoided the topic.
- The design is intentionally minimalist.
adjective
British English
- The advert was clearly intentional.
- That was an intentional foul.
American English
- The damage was not intentional.
- She gave an intentional pause for effect.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My intention is to visit my grandma.
- She has good intentions.
- It was not my intention to upset you.
- He went to the shop with the intention of buying milk.
- Despite her original intention to remain neutral, she felt compelled to speak out.
- The government announced its intention to reform the tax system.
- The court must ascertain the legislative intention behind the statute's ambiguous wording.
- Her artistic intention was to subvert the viewer's expectations through juxtaposition.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'IN TEN' (as in a target number) + 'TION' (action). Your INTENTION is your mental 'in-ten' target before you take action.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTENTION IS A TARGET (e.g., 'He missed the point entirely'), INTENTION IS A PATH (e.g., 'the road to hell is paved with good intentions').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'attention' (внимание).
- The English word 'intention' is a noun; the related verb is 'intend' (намереваться). 'Intention' does not mean 'tension' (напряжение).
- Avoid over-translating 'intention' as 'желание' (wish/desire). It is closer to 'намерение' or 'цель'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing spelling with 'intension' (a logical term, rarely used).
- Using the verb form incorrectly: 'I intention to go' (incorrect) vs. 'I intend to go' (correct).
- Using the plural 'intentions' to mean a singular romantic interest, e.g., 'What are his intentions?'
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase best captures the meaning of 'with the best of intentions'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Intention' focuses on the mental state of planning or aiming. A 'goal' is the specific object or endpoint of one's ambition. You can have an intention to achieve a goal.
Yes, it is crucial in law, especially in criminal law ('mens rea' or criminal intent) and contract law (establishing the intention of the parties).
It's grammatically possible but less common and slightly awkward. 'My intention is to...' is the standard singular form. 'Intentions' (plural) often refers to broader aims or, informally, romantic plans.
The primary adjective is 'intentional', meaning done on purpose. The rarely used 'intentioned' appears in compounds like 'well-intentioned'.