intentions

IPA/ɪnˈten.ʃən/
KK[ˌɪntˈɛntʃənz]IPA/ɪnˈten.ʃən/

intentions — noun

  • intentionssingular
  • intentionsesplural

1. A person's intentions are the specific results they hope to achieve or the plans

1.名詞B1
釋義

A person's intentions are the specific results they hope to achieve or the plans they have in mind before taking action. Your intentions explain why you choose to do something in a particular situation — they are the real purpose behind a decision, not just a vague wish.

例句

Beatrix announced her intentions to run for a seat on the city council next spring.

intentions + to-infinitive for planned goals

The company made its intentions clear by announcing the factory would close in March.

collocation: make one's intentions clear

同義詞
  • plans

    more concrete and specific about the steps involved, rather than the underlying purpose

  • aims

    focuses on the target or desired outcome rather than the thought behind it

  • purposes

    emphasizes the reason something is done, slightly more formal than 'intentions'

  • goals

    stresses a clear, desired end result that someone works toward over time

文法句型

have no intention of + -ing

with the intention of + -ing

make one's intentions clear/known

announce/declare one's intentions

good/best intentions

用法筆記

Although this entry treats 'intentions' as a plural noun, the fixed expressions 'have no intention of' and 'with the intention of' use the singular form 'intention'. These are the most common patterns in everyday English and are not a mistake — the singular form in these cases is an uncountable use meaning 'the state of intending'.

常見錯誤

❌My intention is study abroad next year.
✅My intention is to study abroad next year.
💡'intention' requires 'to' before the verb when followed by a plan or goal.
❌He had no intentions of hurting her.
✅He had no intention of hurting her.
💡in the fixed negative expression 'no intention of', the singular form is standard, not the plural.

2. A person's serious plans regarding marriage — used to ask or talk about whether

2.名詞B2
釋義

A person's serious plans regarding marriage — used to ask or talk about whether someone wants to propose to their romantic partner or make a long-term commitment. This sense is almost always used in questions about someone's relationship goals, especially when family or friends are evaluating the seriousness of a relationship.

例句

Christopher's parents asked him directly about his intentions toward their daughter.

collocation: intentions toward [person] in romantic context

After two years of dating, Rania's friends started asking whether her boyfriend had serious intentions.

同義詞
  • marriage plans

    more direct and concrete, less commonly used in casual conversation than 'intentions'

  • commitment goals

    modern and informal, often used in dating contexts instead of the traditional phrase

文法句型

his/her/their intentions toward/towards [person]

what are his/her intentions?

serious intentions

honorable intentions

declare one's intentions

用法筆記

This sense almost always appears in the form 'his/her/their intentions' with a possessive. The most common question is 'What are his/her intentions?' asked by relatives or friends who want to know whether someone plans to marry their partner. 'Honorable intentions' is a slightly old-fashioned phrase suggesting the person's romantic plans are respectful and sincere.

常見錯誤

❌I asked him about his intention.
✅I asked him about his intentions.
💡in the romantic/marriage sense, the plural form is standard, not the singular.